In the opening one-day international (ODI) of the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand held at Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan emerged victorious, defeating New Zealand by five wickets.
Pakistan’s batsman Fakhar Zaman played a crucial role in the team’s successful chase of 289 runs, scoring an impressive 117 runs. This was Fakhar’s ninth ODI hundred and it came in a winning cause for Pakistan.
Fakhar Zaman’s outstanding batting display propelled Pakistan to a five-wicket victory. He formed a strong opening partnership of 124 runs with Imam-ul-Haq, setting a solid foundation for the team. Despite Imam’s dismissal for 60 runs in the 22nd over, Fakhar Zaman remained composed and continued to accumulate runs.Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, fell just short of a half-century, getting out on 49.
However, his contribution provided support to Fakhar’s innings. Mohammad Rizwan played a crucial role, scoring an unbeaten 42 runs and hitting the winning shot.Adam Milne claimed two wickets for New Zealand, while Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi, and Rachin Ravindra took one wicket each.
Earlier in the match, New Zealand posted a competitive total of 288-7 in 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell and Will Young formed a crucial partnership of 102 runs off 101 balls after the early dismissal of opener Chad Bowes. This partnership helped New Zealand recover and put up a strong total.
Despite a strong start, Pakistani bowlers, including Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan, managed to contain the New Zealand batsmen and restrict their scoring