Fakhar's 180 powers Pakistan to comfy ODI win over New Zealand
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman celebrates after scoring 150 runs during their second one-day international cricket match against New Zealand in Rawalpindi on Saturday. AP
Fakhar Zaman’s second successive century anchored Pakistan to another comfortable seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second one-day international on Saturday.
Fakhar followed his 117 in the first ODI with another entertaining unbeaten 180 off 144 balls as Pakistan pulled off its second highest successful chase in ODIs.
Pakistan romped to 337-3 in 48.2 overs after New Zealand posted an imposing 336-5 on the back of Daryl Mitchell’s own second straight hundred.
Fakhar made New Zealand pay a heavy price for dropping him twice soon after his half-century. He smacked 17 boundaries and six sixes in Pakistan’s chase to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
He shared two dominant century stands, adding 135 runs with captain Babar Azam (65), and an unbroken 119 with Mohammad Rizwan (54 not out), who survived two close run-outs and reversed a caught behind decision against him on review.
Pakistan opted to rest regular bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan and made New Zealand bat first again.
Daryl Mitchell hit a second successive century while Tom Latham missed a ton by two runs as New Zealand piled up 336-5 in the second one-day international against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
The stylish one-drop batter improved on his 113 in the first ODI on Thursday with 129 for 119 balls, and was ably supported by Latham (98) and Chad Bowes (51) after New Zealand were sent in to bat by Pakistan.
Mitchell smashed three sixes and eight boundaries and consolidated the innings through a third-wicket stand of 183 with skipper Latham, as the pair took full advantage of a flat pitch.
Mitchell was finally caught brilliantly by Mohammad Nawaz off pacer Naseem Shah in the 46th over, while Latham was caught behind off Haris Rauf an over later.
It was Naseem who gave Mitchell an extra life four short of his hundred when he dropped a simple catch off spinner Usama Mir at mid-on.
That allowed Mitchell to complete his hundred off 102 balls — his third in his ODI career. Latham knocked eight boundaries and a six off 85 balls.
Bowes and Will Young gave New Zealand a 33-run start before pacer Rauf had Young caught behind for 19 in the sixth over.
Bowes, who hit seven boundaries in his maiden ODI half century, steadied the innings with Mitchell as the pair added 86 for the second wicket.
It was Rauf again who broke the stand when he trapped Bowes leg before wicket in the 19th over. Rauf was the pick of bowlers with 4-78.
Pakistan’s Haris Rauf (centre) celebrates with teammates in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. AP
The tourists also made two changes, with Adam Milne and Blair Tickner making way for James Neesham and Henry Shipley.
The remaining matches of the five-game ODI series are in Karachi on May 3, 5 and 7.
Teams:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Agha Salman, Abdullah Shafique, Ihsanullah, Usama Mir
New Zealand: Tom Latham (captain), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Henry Shipley, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, James Neesham, Will Young
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Rashid Riaz (PAK)
TV umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)
Agence France-Presse
