KARACHI: New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 79 runs in the second one-day international (ODI) on Wednesday to level the series 1-1 at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi. New Zealand had set a 262-run target for Pakistan to chase.
Pakistan will be disappointed with that batting effort, as the score on the board wasn’t a huge one to chase down. However, much of the blame will go to the openers, Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman, for throwing their wicket away early on.
The ever-dependent pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan did manage to do the repair work, but Rizwan fell, and the middle order was exposed. Babar was forced to hold down one end, and only Agha Salman was the other batter who contributed a bit.
The Pakistani batters were picked off one by one, and a couple of run-outs didn’t help them either. Babar did get to a sedate 50 but got out towards the end. The hosts will now look to bounce back in the series decider.
Pak vs NZ: New Zealand inning
Earlier, spinner Mohammad Nawaz took four wickets to help Pakistan restrict New Zealand to 261 all out on Wednesday after opening batter Devon Conway hit a century in the second ODI in Karachi.
Nawaz finished with 4-38 as Kiwis slumped from a strong 183 for one in 29.5 overs to 206-6, losing five wickets for 23 runs in the space of 40 deliveries.
New Zealand, who won the toss and elected to bat, were lifted by a second-wicket stand of 181 runs between Kane Williamson (85) and Conway (101) before they slumped to the spin of Muhammad Nawaz.
Fast-bowler Naseem Shah (3-58) broke the partnership when he took Conway off the last ball of the 30th over. Conway hit 13 boundaries and six off 92 balls, his second hundred in ODIs.
Conway’s stand with Williamson is a record against Pakistan, beating Martin Guptill and Williamson’s 159 runs set in Wellington in 2016.
