NZ Vs PAK, 2018: Mickey Arthur credits New Zealand for winning streak at home

After New Zealand clinched the fourth match of the ongoing five-match One-day International series by five wickets and 25 balls to spare following the remarkable show from Colin de Grandhomme, Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has hailed the efforts of the Black Caps’ winning run at home.

“It’s a very, very good New Zealand team – they tick all the boxes in their own conditions,” Arthur said in Hamilton and was quoted as saying by Stuff News.

The 49-year-old Johannesburg-born Arthur was thoroughly disappointed with his wards performances since the visitors set foot on New Zealand soil.

“We haven’t played well enough since we’ve been here, but this was a night we were able to put New Zealand under pressure,” Arthur asserted.

After Pakistan set the target of 263, Kiwis opener Colin Munro smashed 42-ball 52, as his innings included eight boundaries and two sixes to score at the strike-rate of 133.33.

“[Colin] Munro played well, gave them a lot of momentum up front, and then to have the game taken away by de Grandhomme was pretty disappointing,” Arthur observed.

With so much of the delight, Colin de Grandhomme has ripped apart the Pakistan bowling which further saw the hosts registering the 11 straightway across formats at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Pertinently, Pakistan landed in New Zealand after the nine consecutive wins since the ICC Champions Trophy win in the United Kingdom on June 18 at The Oval in London.

“We’d come off a nine-match winning streak coming here,” Arthur maintained.

Grandhomme slams the maiden fifty half-centuries off 25 balls which further saw him striking 40-ball 74 runs.

“He totally changed the game,” Arthur added when asked about de Grandhomme’s blazing knock.

The 31-year-old Grandhomme, who has returned to the New Zealand’s national fold, reveals he was told to play your natural game, and it paid off.

“I didn’t get a message, I just got told to play your game. Basically see the ball, hit the ball,” Arthur added.

However, de Grandhomme clubbed five sixes which saw him striking seven boundaries.

“It was some serious hitting – he did play exceptionally well,” Arthur further added.

Grandhomme forged 109-run stand for the sixth wicket alongside Nicholls as Arthur remarked they allowed Kiwis skipper to pick wickets after bowling his quota of 10 overs.

“Disappointed we let Kane getaway – that was where the extra 15-20 runs went,” Arthur said.

Moreover, the half-centuries from Colin Munro followed by Henry Nicholls’ calm and composed innings of 70-ball 52 saw the in-form New Zealand right into the game.

Arthur was appointed as Pakistan coach in 2016 in May after Waqar Younis stepped down from the post as a chief coach following the Twenty20 World Cup debacle in India.

Wasn’t it a grand performance by any means at home by Grandhomme?

Follow Pakistan’s tour to New Zealand here: NZ Vs PAK, 2018