Ton-up Fakhar Zaman helped Pakistan beat New Zealand in the first ODI. cricket news
The left-handed batsman hit 13 fours and a six in 117 balls to bring up his ninth ODI century as Pakistan chased down the target of 289 in 48.3 overs.
With this win, Pakistan has taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
All-rounder Daryl Mitchell also scored a century, scoring an impressive 113 off 115 balls, while opener Will Young scored 86 to help New Zealand post a challenging 288-7 in their 50 overs.
It was Zaman who capped off the day for the home side, bringing Pakistan within 34 runs of victory before finally being caught on a mistimed shot.
Imam-ul-Haq (60 off 65 balls) and Zaman put on 124 for the first wicket till the 22nd over, thwarting New Zealand’s attack on the flat pitch at the Pindi Stadium.
Haque, who hit five fours and a six in his 15th ODI half-century, was removed leg before by spinner Ish Sodhi as Pakistan were propelled towards the target by a 90-run partnership between Zaman and captain Babar Azam.
Azam fell one run short of a half-century when he had fast bowler Adam Milne caught behind the stumps by Tom Latham. He hit three fours and a six in 46 balls.
Pakistan faltered when Shan Masood was dismissed for another 12 balls and Agha Salman for seven but Mohammad Rizwan made sure the opportunity was not squandered, hitting the winning four during his 34-ball 42 not out.
It was Pakistan’s 500th win in 949 ODIs.
“It was a team effort, we wanted to start well,” Azam said. “The way we restricted them in the end and then Fakhar played a solid match-winning knock, credit goes to the fast bowlers.”
New Zealand captain Latham lamented his team’s inability to get the early breakthroughs.
Latham said, “I think the score we got was almost equal.” “Daryl played a brilliant innings but when Pakistan batted we just couldn’t make room.”
Earlier, Mitchell scored his highest ODI score to propel New Zealand’s innings after being sent in to bat.
Mitchell hit 11 fours and a six as he put on 102 runs for the second wicket with opener Young, who played an impressive 78-ball knock.
Mitchell was eventually dismissed at deep mid-wicket by pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 47th over, improving on his previous best score of 100 not out against Bangladesh in 2021.
Young hit eight fours and two sixes before being caught at long-off off spinner Shadab Khan.
Mitchell was dropped by Salman on his own ball for 23, then propelled New Zealand’s innings with a solid 72-run partnership with Latham (20).
But against some tight bowling, the visitors managed only 66 runs in the last ten overs.
Mark Chapman, who had starred for New Zealand in the previous five-match Twenty20 series which ended 2–2, was bowled by fast bowler Haris Rauf after scoring 15 runs.
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Naseem Shah took 2-29, Shaheen 2-63 and Rauf 2-65 for Pakistan.
The remaining matches will be held in Rawalpindi on Saturday and in Karachi on May 3, 5 and 7.
