PAK VS NZ ODI: After their triumph over New Zealand in the initial One Day International (ODI), Pakistani supporters eagerly anticipate the green shirts’ second victory at Rawalpindi’s Pindi Stadium in the PAK vs NZ ODI series.
Watch PAK vs NZ ODI Live Match Streaming in HD at ARY ZAP
The first match of the PAK vs NZ ODI series occurred on Thursday at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain, won the toss and elected to bowl first.
New Zealand batted first and managed to achieve a respectable total on the scoreboard, courtesy of outstanding performances by Daryl Mitchell and Will Young, who recorded a century and a half-century respectively.
Mitchell impressively scored 113 runs off 115 balls, including 11 boundaries and a six. Similarly, Young contributed 86 runs off only 78 deliveries, featuring eight boundaries and two sixes.
Nevertheless, the target set by New Zealand proved insufficient for their bowlers to defend against Pakistan’s dominant opening batsmen, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq.
Fakhar Zaman maintained his exceptional form by scoring his second consecutive century and emerging as Pakistan’s top scorer in the chase. He accumulated 117 runs off 114 balls, smashing 13 boundaries and a six.
On the other hand, Imam scored 60 runs off 65 deliveries, comprising five boundaries and a maximum. Pakistan’s commanding performance led to a five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first match of the PAK vs NZ ODI series.
This win marked Pakistan’s 500th international victory in the 50-Overs format, achieved in their 949th ODI fixture. Pakistan became the third team, following India and Australia, to achieve this milestone.
Interestingly, this significant victory came against the same team with whom Pakistan played their inaugural limited-overs match in 1973. Along their journey, the Men in Green also secured an ODI World Cup title in 1992 under the captaincy of Imran Khan.
The two teams will now clash in the second match of the five-match ODI series at the same venue on April 29 before shifting the action to Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Arena, where the remaining three PAK vs NZ ODIs will be held.
New Zealand Squad:
Tom Latham (c), Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Will Young, Chad Bowes, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Henry Shipley, Blair Tickner
Pakistan Squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Ihsanullah, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Usama Mir.
PAK vs NZ ODI Schedule:
27 Apr – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
29 Apr – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
3 May – 3rd ODI, Karachi
5 May – 4th ODI, Karachi
7 May – 5th ODI, Karachi
