With just 29 runs allowed in 10 overs and two wickets taken with the final two balls of the New Zealand innings, Naseem Shah was Pakistan’s best bowler.
On Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman celebrates after scoring a century in the inaugural one-day international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand.
In the opening game of the series on Thursday in Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman scored his ninth century in one-day internationals, surpassing Daryl Mitchell’s brisk century.
With Mitchell hitting 113 of 115 balls and establishing a century-plus partnership with Will Young (86), New Zealand scored 288-7.
With just 29 runs allowed in 10 overs and two wickets taken with the final two balls of the New Zealand innings, Naseem Shah was Pakistan’s best bowler.
Fakhar (117), Imam-ul-Haq (60), and captain Babar Azam of Pakistan all contributed to a solid opening stand of 124. With nine balls remaining, Pakistan was able to complete the goal as Mohammad Rizwan was still unbeaten at 42.
Fakhar, who was selected Player of the Match, stated that the strategy was to assault and remain for a while.
“You must stay (until the end) if you survive the new ball.”
He explained that the plan was for at least one of the top three hitters to bat deep.
I hope Imam and Babar would also play significant knocks because today was my day.
On a low pitch, Mitchell claimed New Zealand got a “par score” when batting first.
He told reporters, “Pakistan has some world-class bowlers and they demonstrated it there in the end with their death bowling.
Fakhar was hazardous; he occasionally challenged the status quo and took some chances, and he undoubtedly reaped the benefits of doing so.
On Saturday, the second ODI of the five-match series will also be played in Rawalpindi.
