LAHORE: Glenn Phillips scored an unbeaten 106 runs, while a strong bowling attack helped New Zealand achieve a convincing victory against Pakistan in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing a daunting 331-run target, Pakistan got off to a promising start with the new opening pair of Fakhar and Babar Azam putting together a brisk 52-run stand.
Fakhar was the aggressor from the get-go, while Babar took a more cautious approach. However, just as the powerplay ended, Michael Bracewell got the breakthrough, dismissing Babar for a sluggish 10 off 23 balls.
Fakhar then forged another crucial partnership, adding 51 runs for the second wicket with Kamran Ghulam, who struggled for fluency and managed 18 off 32 deliveries.
The left-handed opener continued to anchor the innings and shared a brief stand with skipper Mohammad Rizwan (3) before eventually perishing in the 24th over.
Fakhar top-scored for Pakistan with a resilient 84 off 69 balls, smashing seven boundaries and four sixes, but his departure left a massive void in the chase.
From there, vice-captain Salman Ali Agha tried to steady the ship, forming key partnerships with Tayyab Tahir (30) and Khushdil Shah (15), but New Zealand’s disciplined attack kept striking at regular intervals.
Agha showed some fight, scoring a 51-ball 40 with two fours and a six, but Bracewell cut short his stay.
Lower down the order, Abrar Ahmed provided some late resistance with an unbeaten 25 off 15 balls, but by then, the match had already slipped out of Pakistan’s hands.
New Zealand’s bowling attack was clinical, with Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry picking up three wickets each, while Bracewell chipped in with two to seal a comfortable win for the visitors.
Earlier, New Zealand opted to bat first in the opening match of the tri-nation series, however, Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Pakistan an early advantage, dismissing Will Young (4) caught behind on just the fourth delivery of the match.
Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed removed Rachin Ravindra (25) to leave New Zealand reeling at 39-2 in 7.4 overs.
However, New Zealand fought back through a 95-run third-wicket stand between Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell, shifting the momentum in their favour.
Just when the game seemed to be slipping away from Pakistan, Shaheen stepped up again, breaking the partnership by removing Williamson in the 27th over to halt the momentum of New Zealand.
The former New Zealand captain played a cautious 58-run knock from 89 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.
Haris Rauf further dented New Zealand’s innings in the very next over, dismissing Tom Latham for a duck, putting Pakistan back in control.
However, Mitchell kept New Zealand in the game with his attacking batting as he knitted a 65-run stand with Glenn Phillips for the fifth wicket to take his team’s total to 200.
Abrar returned to the attack and provided the much-need breakthrough, dismissing Mitchell, who was playing on 81 with the help of four sixes and two boundaries.
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.
He was also involved in a 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Michael Bracewell, who made a 23-ball 31, laced with one four and three sixes.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up three wickets, followed by Abrar with two, while Haris Rauf made one scalp.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Tayyab Tahir, Salman Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Ben Sears, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke
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