PAK vs NZ ODI Archives

Game is never over when Iftikhar is at the crease: Will Young

KARACHI: New Zealand opener Will Young heaped praises on hard-hitting Pakistan batter Iftikhar Ahmed for his courageous knocks against the Blackcaps during the recently concluded white-ball series between the two sides.

Pakistan’s lone warrior in the final ODI on Sunday, Iftikhar, smashed an unbeaten 94 from 72 balls to keep the opposition on their toes despite the top-order collapse. His heroic knock eventually went in vain as Pakistan were all-out for 252 while chasing 300.

Earlier in the T20I series, he also played a similar knock when he thrashed a blistering 60 in just 24 balls in the third game in Lahore but could not sail his side to the finish line.

The grit shown by Iftikhar did not go unnoticed as the Kiwi player Young spoke highly of his knock, claiming he was distressed after dropping the former on 60.

“He is an amazing player. I can recall a couple of knocks when he almost won the game singlehandedly” said Young in the post-match press conference.

“I think the game is never over when Ifitkhar is at the crease. And when I dropped him on 60 at point, my heart was pumping”

Young, who starred with a brilliant 87-run knock, said he was happy with the team’s victory and the way he played in the final ODI.

“We were able to take wickets today which we were not able to do in the previous game and managed to put pressure on the opposition,” he added

Commenting on the importance of the Pakistan tour before the World Cup – scheduled later this year in India – he said, “Playing in the subcontinent condition will help us a lot preparing for the mega event”.

Furthermore, the right-hander also hailed the local crowd for their support and lauded Pakistan for its great hospitality.

“They were obviously home fans but they were nice and friendly to us as well. And the way we were treated in hotel rooms at various hotels was outstanding,” he said.

“Hospitality was great,” he remarked.

New Zealand concluded their second tour of Pakistan this year on Sunday with a consolation 47-run win in the final ODI at National Bank Cricket Cricket to avoid the 5-0 series whitewash.

The tour commenced on April 24 with a five-game T20I series in Lahore and Rawalpindi. Despite falling behind 2-0 after the first two games, the visitors managed to tie the series at 2-2.

READ: No fissure in the team, claims Babar after Imam’s cryptic tweet

PAK vs NZ: Fakhar credits Babar Azam for his marathon innings

RAWALPINDI: Imperious Fakhar Zaman has credited skipper Babar Azam for his longer stays on the crease helping him to finish the job for his team after he led Pakistan to a convincing win in the second match of the PAK vs NZ ODI series.

The left-hander played a match-winning knock of 180 not out to help his side chase down the massive 337-run target in the second ODI against New Zealand at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

It was the second-highest run chase by the Men in Green in ODI history.

Pakistan star opener disclosed that he was able to bat till the last because of Babar’s time-to-time interventions to calm his nerves.

“After every over Babar was sending me a message to stand (solid) and not to go hard,” he said in a post-match interview.

“Even when he was batting (with me), he never asked me to go for runs. He was just asking to take singles and double, and if needed he himself would take the risk.”

Moreover, Fakhar said the skipper tried his best to keep him under control even when he was stubborn to take the risk.

“We all know how big a player he is. He is always calm and does not take the pressure. I told him that I would take the risk if the run rate goes beyond seven, no matter what you say. Even then he kept asking me to remain calm since the target is very much achievable on this wicket ” he told.

Talking about the role Babar plays during his marathon innings, Fakhar claimed if he was not there to soothe his nerves it would not have been possible for him to go that far.

“Even in the last match when I was batting in the 80s, I told the umpire if Babar had not been there I would’ve either completed my century or been sitting in the dressing room,” he added.

It must be noted here that Fakhar’s blitzkrieg the other day is the highest score by any Pakistan batter in a successful run chase.

The 33-year-old registered a host of individual records in the match as he became the fastest batter not just from the country but from Asia to complete 3000 ODI runs and just the fourth Pakistani to hit three consecutive centuries in the format.

Fakhar’s back-to-back centuries at Pindi Cricket Stadium, took Pakistan to a 2-0 lead in the series as he outshone New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell for the second time in a row.

The two sides will now take on each other in the third fixture of the five-match ODI series at the National Bank Cricket Arena as the action shifts to Karachi, which will host the remaining three ODIs on May 3, 5 and 7.

READ: PAK vs NZ: Teams reach Karachi for remainder of ODI series

PAK vs NZ: Teams reach Karachi for remainder of ODI series

KARACHI: Pakistan and New Zealand cricket teams arrived in Karachi on Sunday to play the last three matches of the PAK vs NZ ODI series on May 3, 5, and 7, respectively, at National Bank Cricket Arena.

Both teams landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport in the afternoon from Islamabad after playing the first two ODIs in Rawalpindi.

Rawalpindi hosted the two T20Is and as many ODI matches during New Zealand’s ongoing tour of the country.

As per the details, both teams will start their training for the remainder of the ODI series tomorrow at the venue.

It must be noted here New Zealand beat Pakistan 2-1 in their last ODI series earlier this year with all three matches held in Karachi.

On Saturday, Pakistan sealed a convincing win against the visitors in the second PAK vs NZ ODI to take a 2-0 lead in the series thanks to Fakhar Zaman’s marathon knock of unbeaten 180 runs.

The in-form opener struck his third-consecutive century and propelled Pakistan to an astonishing seven-wicket victory over the visitors last night.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam opted to bowl first after the coin flipped in his favour. New Zealand, batting first, put up a decent total on the scoreboard at the back of a brilliant century by Daryl Mitchell and a vital 98-run knock by skipper Tom Latham.

Mitchell smashed eight boundaries and three sixes on his way to top score for New Zealand with a 119-ball 129.

On the other hand, Latham fell just two short of his century as he scored 98 in just 85 balls, laced up with eight boundaries and a six.

The target set by New Zealand eventually proved insufficient for their bowlers to defend at the back of resounding knocks by their openers Fakhar Zaman and skipper Babar.

Fakhar Zaman continued his magnificent form to score his second-consecutive century and top-scored for Pakistan in the run chase.

Babar, however, looked confident to replicate Fakhar but fell short as he fell victim to Ish Sodhi after scoring an important 65 in 66 deliveries, hitting five boundaries and a six.

The two sides will now take on each other in the third fixture of the five-match ODI series on Wednesday.

READ: Fakhar Zaman bags multiple records in second PAK vs NZ ODI