Pakistan achieve huge target of 337 runs in 48.2 overs, Mitchell’s ton goes in vain
By Abdul Jabbar Faisal
RAWALPINDI: Alone Fakhar Zaman (180 not out) snatched a 7-wicket victory from Blackcaps in the 2nd match of the series, as the packed ecstatic crowd that oohed and aawed whole night long to ebb and flow of game at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Saturday. Now, Pakistan made 2-0 up in the five-match bilateral cricket rubber.
While eyeing on 337 runs target in 50 overs, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq started the Pakistan’s quest, as Green Shirts lost their first batter at the total of 66 runs in 10.4 overs when Imam-ul-Haq was caught by Daryl Michelle on the bowling of Matt Henry at short mid-wicket position. Imam made 24 runs and faced 26 deliveries by hitting 3 boundaries.
Meanwhile, left-handed batter, Fakhar Zaman completed his second back-to-back hundred in the series, as he lasted just 83 balls for his ton and smashed 14 boundaries and two huge sixes. Skipper Babar Azam also made his half century off 57 balls with the help of 4 fours. Both batters (Fakhar & Babar) gathered 135 off 122 balls for the second wicket, which put the team on track to reach the designation. Babar scored 65 runs in 66 balls, as he hit eight fours and one six during his vital innings. Home captain was trapped by Ish Sodhi, as Pakistan's total was 201 runs. Chad Bowes took Babar's catch.
Fakhar Zaman (180 runs, 143 balls, 4x17, 6x6) and Mohammad Rizwan (54 runs, 41 balls, 4x6, 6x0) were unbeaten till the end of the match. Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi and Henry Shipley got a wicket for New Zealand.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss back-to-back second time in the ODI Series and again decided to field first. Opening batters, Will Young and Chad Bowes started the kiwis’ innings in the afternoon on a dry pitch of international cricket stadium Pindi. Daryl Michelle scored 129 runs off 119 balls including eight fours and three sixes. He was dropped by Naseem Shah at 96 at mid-wicket on the bowling of Usama Mir in 39th over. It was Michelle’s second consecutive ton in ODI, as he had scored century a couple of days back at the same venue. Kiwis skipper Tom Latham added 98 runs in his team’s total. He faced 85 balls and hit eight fours and a solitary maximum. James Neesham and Henry Nichools remained not out with 17 and 6 runs respectively. Also, 15 extra runs were in New Zealand’s total.
Right-arm pacer, Haris Rauf toiled hard and snared 4 Kiwis batters on a dry surface while Naseem Shah grabbed single wicket after conceding 78 and 49 runs respectively in their 10 overs. Rest of the bowlers failed to produce any notable performance with the ball. Babar used six bowlers, as Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Ishanullah and Usama Mir gave 34, 40, 60 and 66 runs respectively.
Summarized Scorecard:
Venue: Pindi Cricket Stadium
Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first
Man of the Match: Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
New Zealand (Batting): 336 for 5 in 50 overs
Daryl Michelle (129 runs, 119 balls, 4x8, 6x3), Tom Latham (98 runs, 85 balls, 4x8, 6x1), Chad Bowes (51 runs, 51 balls, 4x7, 6x0), Will Young (19 runs, 22 balls, 4x4, 6x0)
Pakistan (Bowling):
Haris Rauf (4 for 78), Naseem Shah (1 for 49)
Pakistan (Batting): Target 337 in 50 overs
Fakhar Zaman (180 runs not out, 143 balls, 4x17, 6x6), Babar Azam (65 runs, 66 balls, 4x5, 6x1), Mohammad Rizwan (54 runs not out, 41 balls, 4x6, 6x0), Imam-ul-Haq (24 runs, 26 balls, 4x3, 6x0)
New Zealand (Bowling):
Matt Henry (1 for 58), Ish Sodhi (1 for 59), Henry Shipley (1 for 79)
Pakistan (Playing XIs):
Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, , Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, Ishanullah Khan, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir
Reserves:
Mohammad Wasim Junior, Mohammad Haris, Haris Sohail, Shan Masood, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan
New Zealand (Playing XIs):
Tom Latham (Captain / Wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Henry Shipley, James Neesham
Reserves:
Cole McConchie, Tom Blundell, Ben lister, Adam Milne, Blair Tickner
Schedule of Upcoming matches:
May 3, 2023:3rd ODI at National Stadium Karachi
May 5, 2023: 4th ODI at National Stadium Karachi
May 7, 2023: 5th ODI at National Stadium Karachi
