Fakhar Zaman scored his third consecutive century as Pakistan beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the second one-day international. Zaman, who is 33 years old and left-handed, scored an unbeaten 180 off 144 balls, which was his tenth ODI hundred.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam scored 112 runs in the second match against South Africa, following his successful performances in the previous matches. Pakistan won the match and now leads the five-match series 2-0. The remaining matches will be held in Karachi on May 3, 5, and 7.
Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 336 runs in an ODI against New Zealand with the help of Fakhar Zaman’s century and contributions from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. This was the second highest successful ODI chase for Pakistan. New Zealand had scored 336-5 with Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham and Chad Bowes contributing runs.
Zaman became the 12th player to score three or more centuries in consecutive One Day International matches, with only Kumar Sangakkara hitting four in a row. Zaman has accomplished this feat twice.
Zaman reached 3,000 ODI runs in 67 innings, making him the second fastest to achieve this after Shai Hope from the West Indies. The fastest to reach this milestone is Hashim Amla from South Africa, who did it in 57 innings.
Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed for 24 when the team’s score was at 66, but Zaman and Azam put on a partnership of 135 runs for the second wicket, and the loss of Azam and Shafique did not stop Pakistan from winning the match.
Zaman hit six sixes and 17 fours and along with Rizwan, completed an unbeaten fourth wicket partnership of 119 to win the match. New Zealand regretted dropping Zaman when he was on 55, as Chapman missed the catch off Neesham.
Mitchell improved on his score of 113 in the previous match by scoring 119 runs in the second ODI. He hit three sixes and eight boundaries and worked with skipper Latham to establish a strong partnership of 183 runs, taking advantage of the favorable conditions on the pitch.
In the 46th over, Mitchell was caught by Mohammad Nawaz off pacer Naseem Shah, and Latham was caught behind off Haris Rauf in the following over. Mitchell was given a second chance when Naseem dropped a straightforward catch off spinner Usama Mir at mid-on, but he was eventually caught out.
Mitchell completed his third ODI career hundred in 102 balls, while Latham hit a six and eight boundaries in 85 balls.
Bowes and Will Young scored 33 runs for New Zealand before Rauf, a fast bowler, caught Young behind for 19 runs in the sixth over.
Bowes scored his first ODI half century and hit seven boundaries. He and Mitchell added 86 runs for the second wicket, but Rauf broke the partnership by getting Bowes out in the 19th over. Rauf was the best bowler, taking four wickets for 78 runs.