LAHORE: Pakistan stumbled relatively meekly in the opening match of the Tri-nation Series against New Zealand here at the newly-transformed and packed with fans Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday night.
In their chase of New Zealand’s 330/6, Pakistan fell to the pressure of the big total and caved in at 252 for nine in 47.5 overs, thus losing by 78 runs with 13 balls to spare.
The next match of the tournament, which is presumed as a preparatory platform for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, will be played between New Zealand and South Africa on Monday (tomorrow). The Champions Trophy will start on February 19 with an opening match to be played between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium Karachi.
Glenn Phillips, who was later named player of the match for his all-round performance, lifted Team New Zealand to a comprehensive score with an unbeaten century and later took one wicket to keep Pakistan in check. Pakistan opened up with Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam with the hope from the two to transform a path to a successful chase, but the latter with just 10 runs to his credit jittered by the 10th over. However, Fakhar stayed put to see in between his efforts.
Pakistan lost the wickets of Kamran Ghulam (19) at 103 in the 19th over and Mohammad Rizwan at 117 in the 23rd over. Then Fakhar despite a pacy batting in which he completed his 17th ODI half century saw Phillips trap him leg before wicket at 84 and the team’s 119, throwing his efforts in vain.
Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir though infused some life in an impalpable game for Pakistan with quick runs and a 53 runs partnership, but achieving the mounting run-rate of above nine was impregnable. Pakistan required seven runs per over right from the start, but it could keep it at five and kept losing key wickets one after the other.
It was Matt Henry who separated the pair pushing Tahir out of contention, leaving Pakistan struggling at 172 for five in the 34th over. Tahir scored 30 runs in 29 balls, hitting four boundaries.
Agha and Khushdil Shah progressed the score well and made 33 runs collectively. But Khushdil perished to a very poor shot selection and Pakistan was then 205 for six with Khushdil making just 15 runs and paving the way for Shaheen. Agha after he made 40 runs gifted his wicket to Bracewell. He was followed by Shaheen (10), Naseem Shah (13), and Abrar Ahmed who remained not out at 25 which came in 15 balls. He also hit two consecutive fours and a six off Henry as he had four boundaries.
Mitchell Santner and Henry were the pick of New Zealand bowlers with three wickets each for 41 and 55 runs respectively while Bracewell snared two batters and Phillips shared one scalp.
Earlier, Phillips, who cracked a maiden century of ODI career, hammered Pakistan bowlers to all corners of the ground in his unbeaten 106 runs innings. He smacked seven sixes and six fours while playing with a strike rate of 143.24. He also shared an unbeaten 76 runs partnership for the 7th wicket with captain Mitchell Santner who remained not out at eight. New Zealand which was pushed to the wall in the initial stage of the game piled up 84 runs in the last five overs with over 48 (of Shaheen Shah Afridi) and 49 (of Naseem Shah) yielding 17 runs each while in the 50th over of Shaheen, Pakistan conceded 25 runs. Phillips for his century took 72 balls to achieve the milestone.
Before the Phillips-Santner partnership, there were three more solid stands achieved by New Zealand. Kane Williams, Daryll Mitchell, Phillips, Michael Bracewell and Santner were instrumental in those stands. Williams, who spined Kiwis innings with a half century (58) when it mattered most after the fall of two back-to-back wickets, also developed 95 runs for the third wicket with Mitchell.
Mitchell on his part hit a magnificent 81 runs and his partnership with Phillips manufactured 65 runs for the 5th wicket. That followed the Michael Bracewell-Philips 54 runs sixth wicket partnership.
After losing two early wickets of Will Young on the fourth ball of the day to Shaheen and Rachin Ravindra to Abrar Ahmed in the 8th over, New Zealand was at the back foot. But Williamson came up with a gutsy innings, hitting seven fours while facing 86 balls for his half century that set the tune for a high total. Later Mitchell with two boundaries and four sixes swelled the score as he faced 84 balls. Michael Bracewell on his part produced 31 runs before becoming the third victim of Shaheen who earlier took the wickets of Williamson and Young. He gave away 88 runs in his 10 overs quota. Abrar for his two wickets gave 41 runs while Haris Rauf who trapped Tom Latham for duck for his only wicket left the field due to rib strain after bowling 6.2 overs. The visitors also lost Ravindra due to injury as the ball hit his face while fielding later in the game.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first in the first game of the tri-series which also involves South Africa. Mitchell Santner opted to set a target on a pitch that appears as flat as ODI pitches have been in Pakistan in recent times. This was the first game at the Gaddafi Stadium after the renovation.