LAHORE: Glenn Phillips played a blistering knock of 106* after Daryl Mitchell’s 81 to power New Zealand to 330-6 against Pakistan in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series here at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
New Zealand opted to bat first, however, Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Pakistan an early advantage, dismissing Will Young (4) caught behind on just the fourth delivery of the match.
Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed removed Rachin Ravindra (25) to leave New Zealand reeling at 39-2 in 7.4 overs.
However, New Zealand fought back through a 95-run third-wicket stand between Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, shifting the momentum in their favour.
Just when the game seemed to be slipping away from Pakistan, Shaheen stepped up again, breaking the partnership by removing Williamson in the 27th over to halt the momentum of New Zealand.
The former New Zealand captain played a cautious 58-run knock from 89 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.
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Haris Rauf further dented New Zealand’s innings in the very next over, dismissing Tom Latham for a duck, putting Pakistan back in control.
However, Mitchell kept New Zealand in the game with his attacking batting as he knitted a 65-run stand with Glenn Phillips for the fifth wicket to take his team’s total to 200.
Abrar returned to the attack and provided the much-need breakthrough, dismissing Mitchell, who was playing on 81 with the help of four sixes and two boundaries.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Ben Sears, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke
More to follow…
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