Pakistan’s lower order showed resistance after being reduced to 32/5 while chasing 293 at Seddon Park, Hamilton. However, maiden fifties from Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah were not enough to prevent a series defeat against New Zealand, as the Michael Bracewell-led side secured an 84-run victory. The hosts gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
For the hosts, wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay shone with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 99 off 78 balls. Defending a total of 292, Ben Sears claimed his maiden five-wicket haul, while Jacob Duffy picked up three wickets.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to bowl first. New Zealand got off to a flying start before Haris Rauf broke the opening stand in the seventh over. Nick Kelly scored 31 off 23 balls. Mohammad Wasim Jr struck in his first over, dismissing debutant Rhys Mariu, who contributed 18 off 25 balls. A few overs later, left-arm chinaman bowler Sufiyan Muqeem was introduced and had Daryl Mitchell stumped for a run-a-ball 18. In the next over, left-arm pacer Akif Javed returned to the attack and trapped Henry Nicholls lbw. Nicholls managed 22 off 32 balls.
Captain Bracewell struggled to get going and became Wasim Jr’s second victim after scoring 17 off 28 balls. Muhammad Abbas and Mitchell Hay navigated the middle overs cautiously before Hay shifted gears in the 39th over, smashing Rauf for back-to-back sixes. The partnership was broken in the 40th over when Muqeem dismissed Abbas, who made 41 off 66 balls. Hay reached his half-century in the 45th over. Faheem Ashraf, in his final over, picked up the wicket of Nathan Smith. Hay continued his aggressive stroke play in the slog overs, while Sears was run out at the other end. In the final over, Hay unleashed two sixes and as many fours, propelling New Zealand to 292/8. He fell agonizingly short of a century, finishing unbeaten on 99 off 78 balls, with seven sixes and seven fours.
In the run chase, Pakistan’s key pacers struggled in conditions that favored swing and bounce. William O’Rourke struck first, removing Abdullah Shafique. Jacob Duffy then made an impact by dismissing Babar Azam, followed by Imam-ul-Haq in his next over. Ben Sears was introduced into the attack and quickly sent Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan back to the pavilion. Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble at 32/5 in the 12th over. With boundaries hard to come by, they attempted to rebuild, but Tayyab Tahir fell to Nathan Smith, and Wasim Jr became Sears’ third victim of the day. By the 22nd over, Pakistan had slumped to 74/7.
Mitchell Hay Shines with Unbeaten 99
Ashraf led the fightback despite coming into the match with an ODI average of just over 11. Meanwhile, Rauf took a blow to the head and was forced to leave the field due to a concussion. Ashraf brought up his fifty in style with a six in the 28th over. Duffy returned to dismiss Javed for a single-digit score, bringing Naseem in as Rauf’s concussion replacement. The duo played with positive intent, looking for boundaries, with Ashraf anchoring the innings while Naseem went for big hits.
In the 38th over, Sears ended Ashraf’s resistance, dismissing him for 73 off 80 balls, which included six fours and three sixes. Muqeem got off the mark with a six in the same over. Naseem reached his maiden ODI fifty in the 41st over, taking just 41 balls. Sears completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Naseem, whose entertaining knock featured four sixes and four fours. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 208, handing New Zealand an 84-run victory.
