Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored a half-century but couldn’t match New Zealand centurion Mark Chapman, who delivered an outstanding innings of 132 runs, while Nathan Smith secured four wickets to complete the home team’s comprehensive 73-run win in the first ODI at Napier on Saturday.
Chapman’s personal-best ODI knock was instrumental in New Zealand posting a substantial 344-9 at McLean Park, before Pakistan’s initially promising run-chase ended at 271 all out in the 44th over.
However, Chapman’s participation in the 2nd ODI became uncertain after he sustained a hamstring injury while fielding and had to leave the ground.
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The visiting team appeared well-positioned at 249 for 3, requiring 96 runs for victory with more than 11 overs at their disposal. However, Smith’s impressive bowling figures of 4-60 triggered a dramatic collapse, with Pakistan losing their final seven wickets for a mere 22 runs.
Babar led Pakistan’s batting with 78 runs from 83 deliveries, but his departure triggered a collapse.
Despite Salman Agha’s resilient 58 runs from 48 balls, his effort was undermined by careless shot-selection from the lower middle -order and tail-end batters, allowing New Zealand to secure a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chapman’s outstanding innings of 111 balls, which included 13 boundaries and four sixes, helped New Zealand recover from their early struggles, which saw them slipping to 50 for 3.
The southpaw formed a substantial 199-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Daryl Mitchell, who scored 76 from 84 balls, before debutant all-rounder Muhammad Abbas concluded the home team’s innings in record-setting fashion.
Abbas, who was born in Pakistan, scoring 52 runs off just 24 balls, which is a new world record for the quickest ODI half-century by a debutant.
Making his international debut, Pakistani left-arm fast bowler Akif Javed secured figures of 2-55, while part-time seamer Irfan Khan took 3 for 51 in his five overs during the final phase of the innings.
The series continues with the second match scheduled in Hamilton on Wednesday.
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