LAHORE (Kashmir English): Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat against New Zealand in the opener of the tri-nation ODI series here on Saturday as the hosts failed to chase the 331-run target.
Chasing a daunting 331-run target, the home side managed to score 254 despite Fakhar Zaman’s gutsy half-century.
Henry and Santner bagged three wickets each for New Zealand. Winner New Zealand will face South Africa in next match on February 10.
According to the details, Pakistan got off to a solid start to the run chase as the opening pair of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman put together a 52-run stand.
Fakhar played aggressively, while Babar was batting cautiously until falling victim to Michael Bracewell on the last delivery of the batting powerplay. He could score 10 only off 23 deliveries.
Fakhar was then part of another important partnership for the hosts when he helped add 51 runs for the second wicket with Kamran Ghulam. He scored a scratchy 18 off 32 balls.
Vice-captain Salman Ali Agha was involved in two important partnerships with Tayyab Tahir (30) and Khushdil Shah (15) before took his wicket. Agha scored 40 including two fours and a six on 51 deliveries.
Abrar Ahmed scored 25 unbeaten off 15 but his efforts were not enough to through his side to the victory.
Playing first, the touring side put a huge total of 330/6 in the allotted 50 overs, thanks to veteran Kane Williamson, Phillips and Daryl Mitchell.
The touring side had a shaky start to their innings as Shaheen Shah Afridi got Will Young (four) caught behind on just the fourth delivery of the opening match.
Then Williamson joined Rachin Ravindra in the middle and together they added 35 runs to the total. Ravindra was dismissed by Abrar Ahmed in the eighth over with the scoreboard reading 39/2. He scored 25 off 19 balls with the help of five fours.
Williamson then joined hands with Mitchell and added 95 runs for the third wicket until falling victim to Shaheen. The top-order batsman scored 58 off 89 balls with seven times hitting the ball behind the rope.
At one time, New Zealand were reduced to 135/4 in 27.1 overs when Haris Rauf dismissed Tom Latham for a duck.
But Mitchell stood his ground firm and put together 65-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Phillips until falling victim to Abrar Ahmed in the 38th over.
Mitchell scored 81 off 84 balls with the help of four sixes and two fours.
Following Mitchell’s dismissal, Glenn Phillips switched gears and bolstered New Zealand’s total past the 300-run mark with an unbeaten 106 off 74 deliveries, laced with six fours and seven sixes.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up three wickets, followed by Abrar with two.
Pakistan XI
Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand XI
Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Ben Sears, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke.
