Pakistan secured a five-wicket victory against New Zealand in the first one-day international in Rawalpindi on Thursday, with Fakhar Zaman delivering an impressive century as the opener.
In the first match of a five-match series, a left-handed cricket player scored his ninth hundred in One Day International matches by hitting 13 boundaries and a six in his innings of 117 runs off 114 balls. Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 289 runs in 48.3 overs, winning the match and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Daryl Mitchell, a versatile player, scored a century in 115 balls, while Will Young hit 86 runs as New Zealand scored a total of 288-7 in their 50 overs.
Zaman was the hero for the home team as he brought Pakistan close to victory by scoring runs, but he was eventually caught out due to a bad shot.
Imam-ul-Haq and Zaman had a partnership of 124 runs for the first wicket in 22 overs, which neutralized New Zealand’s attack on a flat pitch at Pindi stadium. Imam-ul-Haq scored 60 runs off 65 balls.
Haq scored his 15th ODI fifty with five boundaries and a six, but was later dismissed by spinner Ish Sodhi. Zaman and Babar Azam then had a 90-run partnership to help Pakistan get closer to their target.
Azam was dismissed for 49 runs when he edged a delivery from Adam Milne to wicketkeeper Tom Latham. He scored 49 runs off 46 balls, including three fours and a six.
Pakistan struggled after losing Shan Masood and Agha Salman early in the match, but Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 42 runs off 34 balls helped them secure victory.
Mitchell achieved his best ODI score and led New Zealand’s innings after they were asked to bat.
Mitchell scored 11 fours and a six and partnered with opener Young to add 102 runs for the second wicket. Young played an attractive innings of 78 balls.
Mitchell achieved a personal best score of 100 not out against Bangladesh last year, but was finally caught out at deep mid-wicket by fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 47th over of the current game.
Young scored eight boundaries and two sixes before being caught by spinner Shadab Khan at long-off. Mitchell, who was dropped on 23 by Salman off his own bowling, later partnered with Latham (20) to add 72 runs to New Zealand’s innings.
The visitors struggled against tough bowling and only scored 66 runs in the last 10 overs. Mark Chapman, who did well for New Zealand in the previous Twenty20 series, was bowled by Haris Rauf after making 15 runs.
Naseem Shah, Shaheen, and Rauf took two wickets each for Pakistan in their recent match. There are still four matches left to play, with two in Rawalpindi and two in Karachi.