Delhi: The first match of the three -match ODI series between New Zealand and Pakistan was played on 29 March at Napier’s McLeen Park Stadium. The match started late at 3:30 pm Indian time. New Zealand, batting first, scored a big score of 344/9 in 50 overs.
Mark Chapman’s tremendous century innings contributed to this brilliant score. He scored 132 runs in 111 balls, including 13 fours and 6 sixes. In addition, Daril Mitchell played an important innings of 76 runs, while Mohammad Abbas hit 52 runs in just 26 balls and brought the team to a strong position.
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first and initially put pressure on the New Zealand batsmen. Opener Will Young (1) and Nick Kelly (15) were dismissed early, while Henry Nichols (11) could not do anything special. Within 13 overs, the score of Kiwi team was 50/3.
In such a difficult time, Chapman and Mitchell batted brilliantly and shared a 199 -run partnership for the fourth wicket. Chapman completed his century in a fiery manner, while Mitchell was dismissed by 76 runs. In the end, Abbas hit 52 runs in just 26 balls with the help of 3 fours and 3 sixes to bring New Zealand to a strong score of 344.
Pakistan’s bowlers initially performed well and kept the top order of New Zealand under pressure, but they proved to be quite expensive in the middle and death overs. Fast bowler Haris Rauf bowled the most economical, he took 2 wickets for 38 runs in 10 overs. Aqif Javed (10-1-55-2) and Irfan Khan Niazi (5-0-51-3) also took crucial wickets.
Nasim Shah (10–1-60–1) and Mohammad Ali (10–0–53–1) took one wicket each, but did not fully success in stopping the run speed. At the same time, Salman Ali Aga (5-0-67-0) proved to be the most expensive bowler. Now Pakistan will have to achieve a huge goal of 344 runs to win, which is not going to be easy.
In response to the target of 245 runs, the Pakistan team was reduced to 271 runs and the Kiwi team won this match with 73 runs.
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