RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman starred with the bat for his side in the first PAK vs NZ ODI as his magnificent century muscled the home side to thrash New Zealand by five wickets.
Set to chase 289, Pakistan comfortably chased down the total in the 49th over for the loss of five wickets, thanks to an astonishing knock by Fakhar Zaman.
Earlier in the run chase, Pakistan’s dependable opening pair of Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar laid a solid foundation for their team as they raised 124 runs with both scoring half-centuries.
Imam, however, failed to convert his 15th ODI fifty into a century as he fell victim to Ish Sodhi in the 22nd over. He scored 60 off 65 deliveries with the help of five boundaries and a six.
Following Imam’s departure, Pakistan captain Babar Azam joined Fakhar in the middle and kept Pakistan in control with a vital 90-run partnership for the second wicket.
The pair dominated the bowlers with clean striking until Adam Milne managed to produce an edge off Babar’s bat which resulted in the right-handed batter falling one short of his half-century.
Babar smashed three boundaries and a six on his way to a 46-ball 49.
Pakistan then dealt with another blow in the form of Shan Masood, who could score just one in 12 deliveries before falling victim to Milne.
After two back-to-back blows, Fakhar made sure Pakistan did not spill a comfortable pursuit and stitched an important 38-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan before finally walking back in the 43rd over.
He top-scored for Pakistan with 117 in 114 deliveries with the help of 13 boundaries and a six.
Following Fakhar’s dismissal, Rizwan led Pakistan’s charge and steered his side over the line with an unbeaten 42. He smashed six boundaries and a six amid his sensible knock.
Milne led the bowling attack for New Zealand with 2/60 while Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi and Rachin Ravindra made one scalp each.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam invited the touring side to bat in the first PAK vs NZ ODI after the coin flipped in his favour.
New Zealand in response, piled 288/7 in their quota of 50 overs at the back of a brilliant century by Daryl Mitchell and an impressive half-century knock by Will Young.
Earlier, the touring side got off to a cautious start as their openers added 48 runs inside the first 10 overs before Haris Rauf got rid of Chad Bowes, who struggled to score a 26-ball 18.
Following his dismissal, opening batter Young joined hands with Mitchell and punished the hosts’ bowlers with a monumental 152-run partnership for the second wicket.
The pair dominated the bowlers with clean striking until Young miscued one off Shadab in the 27th over and fell just 14 short of a well-deserved century. He smashed eight boundaries and two sixes on his way to a brilliant 78-ball 86.
Mitchell, however, stood firm and put on some brief yet crucial partnerships with Tom Latham (20) and Mark Chapman (15) before finally perishing in the 47th over.
He top-scored for New Zealand with 113 off 115 deliveries, laced up with 11 boundaries and a six.
Following his departure, Henry Nicholls (20*) and Rachin Ravindra (9) made valuable contributions at the backend to keep New Zealand on track for a decent total.
Naseem Shah led the bowling attack with two wickets for just 29 runs while Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi also picked as many wickets but were expensive. Shadab Khan, on the other hand, could pick up one.