PAK vs NZ ODI: At the National Stadium in Karachi on Monday, Pakistan defeated New Zealand in the inaugural ODI by chasing down 256 runs with 6 wickets remaining with Mohammad Rizwan’s unbroken 77-run effort and Babar Azam’s 66. Earlier, the hosts were able to hold the Kiwis at 255 for 9 in 50 overs thanks to Naseem Shah’s 2nd 5 wicket haul in the layout. New Zealand struggled to establish a challenging mark for Pakistan after Pakistan winning the toss and electing to bowl initially. New Zealand continued to lose wickets on a constant time frame. In addition to Naseem, rookie spin bowler Usama Mir claimed 2 captives. Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr. both secured 1 wicket.
Devon Conway misjudged a flick, and Naseem smacked on the final delivery of the opening over as his back foot helped the delivery rebound over onto wickets. Finn Allen and Williamson were attempting to take their time to analyze the terrain.
PAK vs NZ ODI: Kiwi openers couldn’t give a solid start
PAK vs NZ ODI: However, as New Zealand attempted to put their somewhat sluggish beginning beyond them, Allen eventually began to get the delivery to bounce off the center of his bat. Prior to hitting Haris Rauf for a sequence of 4s, Allen initially blasted Naseem for two 4s in an over. But Pakistan was able to dismiss Allen for 29 from 27 deliveries thanks to an amazing acrobatic capture by Agha Salman off Mohammad Wasim.
Latham was one of the most dynamic New Zealand hitters. And considering his prowess versus spin, it appeared as though he would increase his effort. However, Latham was only able to direct a half-tracker from Mir to deep midwicket.
PAK vs NZ ODI: Phillips and Bracewell’s 66 run partnership to bring back kiwis in the game
Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham were able to stick out and push the rare boundary. But they were unable to truly take control. Before Mitchell despatched by a Nawaz ball that hit in the middle and twisted sufficiently to defeat his outer edge and smash into the wickets. The duo scored 56 for the 4th wicket.
Following their 66 off 75-ball addition, Phillips and Bracewell put New Zealand in a position. The duo rotated the attack. And enabled the kiwis to establish a basis for a final-overs onslaught although not consistently hitting the big strokes. And yet in the 40th over, Phillips struck Naseem for a huge 6, the game’s first, after playing out 4 dots in the midst of increasing strain.
PAK vs NZ ODI: Naseem Shah’s brilliance with the ball
PAK vs NZ ODI: But in the end, it was Naseem who won because he was able to get rid of both Phillips (37 off 53 deliveries) and Bracewell (43 off 42 deliveries) to put New Zealand in trouble. Naseem dispatched Bracewell and Shipley with consecutive deliveries, but Southee stopped him from getting a hat-trick.
However, Santner and Southee played a rapid game to help New Zealand pass the 250-run threshold. Unfortunately, it wasn’t sufficient.
Babar and Fakhar took control to give a solid start to the Pakistan innings
However, the Pakistani team’s initial wicket was shortly lost as they attempted to reach their 256-run goal. Imam-ul-Haq was shown the route to the balcony by Mitchell Bracewell. Imam’s wicket, who had collected 11 runs, was taken on the 4th delivery of the 6th over with the scorecard at 30. Fakhar then had the skipper’s backing. Babar and Zaman raised the side’s overall score above 100 as a unit. After reaching 50, Fakhar dismissed by Bracewell. He confronted 74 deliveries and hit seven 4s in an attempt to score 56 runs.
Following the completion of his 50, Captain Babar Azam also went back to the dugout. He attempted to pass Glenn Phillips, however the wicketkeeper Latham trapped Babar when the bowler sent an outside delivery to the leg side. Babar smashed five 4s and a 6 to reach 66 runs in 82 deliveries.
Mohammad Rizwan’s spectacular batting led Pakistan to victory at the end
After then, Pakistan moved nearer to glory thanks to Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Sohail. Harris was removed after getting 37 runs, but Rizwan stayed firm and claimed the game. They both contributed to a 68-run 4th-wicket stand. Rizwan reached his 50 and outplayed the bowlers from New Zealand. Mohammad Rizwan faced 86 deliveries and went unblemished in an inning, scoring 77 runs on six 4s and a 6.
Nobody was able to turn a strong foundation by the New Zealand team’s batters into a significant inning.
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