Fakhar Zaman smashed his ninth ODI century and powered Pakistan to a five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first one-day international on Thursday.
Fakhar Zaman smashed his ninth ODI century and powered Pakistan to a five- gate palm over New Zealand in the first one- day transnational on Thursday.
Fakhar, the left- handed nature, made 117 off 114 balls and guided Pakistan to 291- 5 with further than an over to spare for a 1- 0 lead in the five- match series.
Fakhar’s opening mate Imam- ul- Haq laid the solid foundation of the run- chase by scoring 60 in a century opening stage and captain Babar Azam also indented 49 in a dominant Pakistan run- chase on a slow gate.
Before, fast bowler Naseem Shah (2- 29) sailed brilliantly both with the new and old ball to limit New Zealand at 288- 7 despite Daryl Mitchell hitting a career-stylish 113 off 115 balls after Babar won the toss and tagged to field.
“This was a platoon trouble, we wanted to start (the series) well, ” Babar said. “ Credit goes to the fast bowlers for the way we confined them in the end. It feels good to see players execute their plans. The way Naseem sailed put the pressure on them and also the way Fakhar and Imam played, also the innings Fakhar and I erected together, was great. ”
Will Young, opening for the first time in his short ODI career, grew in confidence and made an aggressive 86 off 78 balls as he raised a 102- run stage with Mitchell after surviving Naseem’s early confluence and swing.
Mitchell escaped beforehand in his else brilliant knock when on 23 part- time incentive Agha Salman couldn’t hold onto a sharp return catch. Young hit eight fours and two sixes before he eventually drilled out at long- out after leg- incentive Shadab Khan (1- 56) switched ends and handed Pakistan a important- demanded advance in the 27th over.
Mitchell, still, continued to dominate both pace and spin and — despite captain Tom Latham laboring for 36 balls for his knock of 20 — added a farther 72 runs for the third- gate stage.
Mitchell raised his alternate ODI century with a straight driven boundary against Shaheen Shah Afridi (2- 63) before Pakistan pegged back the Black Caps in the death overs through pace.
Mark Chapman, who was retained for the ODIs after his brilliant run of fur form in the 2- 2 drawn T20 series against Pakistan, couldn’t force acceleration as he tried a ramp shot against Haris Rauf (2- 65) and was clean sailed for 15.
Mitchell, who hit 11 fours and two sixes, was also tied down by Naseem in his return spell as boundaries dried up before Afridi eventually had him caught in the deep. Naseem limited a brilliant display of fast bowling by claiming two lattices off the final two deliveries as Pakistan allowed New Zealand only 37 runs in the last five overs.
Fakhar survived a tough chance in the first over when Latham couldn’t snare a one- handed catch down the legside. New Zealand, traveling without eight frontline white- ball players busy playing in the Indian Premier League, couldn’t trouble both the left- handers — Fakhar and Imam with their alternate string pace attack as the brace raised 124- run stage.
Leg- incentive Ish Sodhi broke through when he’d Imam trapped leg before gate off a sharp turning delivery before Babar raised another dominant 90- run cooperation with Fakhar.
Fakhar raised his century off 99 balls before he mistimed a slog reach against the left- arm spin of Rachin Ravindra and gave a regulation catch at mid-on as New Zealand hit back late when Adam Milne (2- 60) removed Babar and Shan Masood (1) in consecutive overs. Mohammad Rizwan led Pakistan with a brisk unbeaten 42 off 36 balls as Pakistan gamboled to palm in the 49th over.
“The gate got harder for new guys, but the way Pakistan played was superb, ” Latham said. “ We couldn’t make any raids. It (the gate) got harder in the end but the two hookups up top from Pakistan made the difference. ”
Rawalpindi will host the alternate ODI on Saturday while Karachi will host the remaining three games coming week. Know More Latest Cricket News…
