Rawalpindi Express runs through New Zealand

AUCKLAND, FEB. 18. Shoaib Akhtar made a triumphant return to cricket with an awesome spell of fast bowling as Pakistan crushed New Zealand by six wickets in the first limited-overs International at Eden Park here today.

After rib and back injuries forced him out of the game for 300 days, Shoaib took a career-best five for 19, including five for two in 11 balls, to skittle the host out for a paltry 149. In reply, Pakistan raced to 150 for four and won with five overs to spare, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. New Zealand's miserable summer continued as it slumped to its 12th defeat in the last 14 limited-overs internationals. The match was postponed to Sunday after rain forced the officials to abandon play on Saturday.

The Pakistan batsmen battled a slow pitch and an equally dour attack as they ground out some valuable batting practice before the second match, to be played at Napier, on Tuesday.

Only left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori troubled the tourists as he got the ball to turn and claimed Saeed Anwar (48) and Abdur Razzaq (19) for the cost of 21 runs in 10 overs. The injury that forced Shoaib out of a lucrative $200,000 contract with English county Nottinghamshire last season, kept him out of 16 one-day Internationals.

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