New Zealand clinches dominant victory over Pakistan in ODI series opener

New Zealand defeated Pakistan by a dominating 73 runs in the first ODI at McLean Park on Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Chasing a daunting target of 345, Pakistan started strong with debutant Usman Khan and Abdullah Shafique putting together an 83-run opening partnership. Both batters played aggressively, giving Pakistan a solid start.

However, the breakthrough came in the 13th over when Nathan Smith dismissed Usman for 39. In the 13th over, captain Michael Bracewell removed Abdullah for 36, leaving Pakistan at 88-2.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan worked to stabilize the innings, putting together a 76-run stand to keep Pakistan’s hopes alive. But debutant Muhammad Abbas struck, dismissing Rizwan for 30 in the 29th over, leaving Pakistan at 164-3.

Babar continued to fight, combining with Salman Ali Agha for another key partnership worth 85 runs. Babar made a fluent 78, reaching his 36th ODI fifty before falling to Will O’Rourke in the 39th over, shifting the momentum in New Zealand’s favor.

Pakistan’s innings collapsed quickly after Babar’s dismissal. Tayyab Tahir was run out in the 40th over, and Irfan Khan Niazi was dismissed for a golden duck, leaving Pakistan struggling at 253-6.

Smith continued to impress with the ball, removing Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf in the 43rd over, while Jacob Duffy took the crucial wicket of Salman Ali Agha, who scored a fighting 58. Akif Javed was the final batter out, as Pakistan were all out for 271 in 44.1 overs.

Smith was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for 60 runs in 8.1 overs. Duffy supported with two wickets, while Bracewell, Abbas, and O’Rourke took one wicket each, completing a dominant New Zealand victory.

Earlier, New Zealand had a rocky start after being put in to bat. Naseem Shah made an immediate impact, dismissing Will Young for 1 in the third over. Debutant Akif Javed then took the wickets of Nick Kelly for 15 and Henry Nicholls for 11, leaving New Zealand in trouble at 50-3 in the 13th over.

However, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell turned the game around with a brilliant 199-run partnership. Chapman’s aggressive batting earned him his third ODI century in the 38th over, where he hit 13 fours and six sixes. Mitchell supported well with a steady 76 before falling to Irfan Niazi. Their record-breaking partnership of 199 runs lifted New Zealand to a commanding position.

Chapman eventually fell for a career-best 132, while Haris Rauf and Niazi struck late to break the lower order. But debutant Mohammad Abbas’s blistering 50 off just 24 balls helped New Zealand surpass 300 runs.

Pakistan’s bowlers showed fight, with Niazi taking 3 wickets for 51 runs. Rauf and Akif each took two wickets, while Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali took one wicket each.

New Zealand’s comprehensive win puts them in a strong position in the series, with the second ODI set to be played on Wednesday, April 2, at Hamilton.