PAK vs NZ: Fakhar Zaman smashes unbeaten 180 as Pakistan beat New Zealand by 7 wickets in Rawalpindi

Fakhar Zaman smashed a magnificent unbeaten century to guide Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in Rawalpindi. With this win, Pakistan took a 2-0 lead in the five-match one-day international series at home.

Fakhar Zaman smashed a magnificent unbeaten century to guide Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in Rawalpindi. With this win, Pakistan took a 2-0 lead in the five-match one-day international series at home. Babar Azam won the toss for his side and opted to field first. The hosts started the first innings well with pacer Haris Rauf getting rid of Kiwi opener Will Young in the sixth over. Fellow opening batter Chad Bowes then formed a crucial 86-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell to settle New Zealand’s innings, before being caught LBW by Rauf. Bowes scored 51 runs off as many deliveries, while smashing seven boundaries. Mitchell then stitched a massive 183-run stand with Tom Latham and even went on to complete his second century in ODI cricket. Mitchell scored 129 runs off 119 balls, hitting eight boundaries and three maximums, before being dismissed by pacer Naseem Shah. Latham soon followed Mitchell back into the dugout, after missing out on a well-deserved hundred. Latham scored 98 runs off 85 deliveries and became Rauf’s third wicket of the day. The right-arm pacer then sent Mark Chapman packing as New Zealand finished with 336 for 5 on the scoreboard after 50 overs. Rauf was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, claiming four wickets while giving away 78 runs in 10 over.

Zaman Incredible performance

In the second innings, Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq started off in positive fashion and formed a 66-run stand for the opening wicket, before Matt Henry dismissed Imam in the 10th over. Then, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam stitched a vital 132-run partnership with Zaman, which saw both batters complete their respective half-centuries. However, Ish Sodhi provided the important breakthrough for his side, getting rid of Babar in the 30th over. Babar scored 65 runs off 66 balls, hitting five boundaries and a solitary six. Abdullah Shafique came and went without moving the scoreboard much as Henry Shipley claimed his only wicket of the evening. However, Zaman kept on scoring at a positive run-rate and formed another important partnership, this time with wicket-keeping batter Mohammad Rizwan. The two batters stuck around for an unbeaten 119-run stand which drove Pakistan over the line in Rawalpindi. Zaman remained unbeaten on 180 and missed out on his second double century in the 50-over format. He hit 17 boundaries and six maximums in the 144 balls that he faced. Meanwhile, Rizwan remained unbeaten on 54 runs off 41 balls, hitting six boundaries on the way. With this win, Pakistan took a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series, with the third match set to played at the National Stadium in Karachi on May 3.