KARACHI: All-round Pakistan thrashed New Zealand by 26 runs in the third PAK vs NZ ODI to record a historic series victory over the visitors at the National Bank Cricket Arena here yesterday.

Put into bat first in the third PAK vs NZ ODI, Pakistan pile a massive total on the scoreboard at the back of a brilliant 90-run knock by Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam’s 56. The home side had an unwanted start to their innings as they lost their in-form opener, Fakhar Zaman for just 19 in the ninth over as Matt Henry struck gold for New Zealand.

After losing their in-form batter Pakistan soon got their dependable pair – Babar and Imam – anchoring the proceedings as the duo stitched their eighth 100-run partnership and put the hosts in command. The pair was looking solid to take the game away from New Zealand until Henry castled Babar in the 29th over – soon after he amassed his 26th half-century.

Babar smashed three boundaries and a six on his way to a 62-ball 54. Imam then found a brief support in the form of Abdullah Shafique, who could score 19 off 23 before falling to Cole McConchie, who bagged his maiden scalp in the format. The left-handed opener then found himself in agony as he fell just 10 short of his well-deserved century after Adam Milne’s in-swinging delivery outclassed him in the 38th over. The back-to-back dismissals, however, did not Pakistan much as a vital 54-run partnership between Agha Salman and Mohammad Rizwan kept the home side in the hunt for a big total. Salman scored 31 off 29 while Rizwan made 32 off 34 deliveries before they fell in the 46th and 47th over respectively. Brief yet crucial cameos by Shadab Khan (21 off 10) and Mohammad Nawaz (11 off nine) bolstered Pakistan’s total at the backend as the pair raised 25 runs in the last 13 deliveries.

Right-arm quick Henry led the bowling attack for New Zealand with three wickets while his new-ball partner Milne bagged two. McConchie, on the other hand, had a scalp to his name.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 04 2023

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