The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That brings us to the end of Sportskeeda’s coverage for the 2nd ODI. In the end, it was a comfortable victory for the home team by 7 wickets. What a knock from Fakhar Zaman. The ODI leg now moves to Karachi with the 3rd ODI slated to be played on 3rd May. Cricketing action will continue with a double header tomorrow in the IPL. We will also cover the ECS games. So a fascinating Sunday on our hands. Till then, it’s goodbye and goodnight from myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) and my fellow commentator and good mate Karthik Raj. Cheers!
Babar Azam (Pakistan captain): As a captain, it's very satisfying when your team responds and steps up. We have the template on how we want to play in this format. When I came out there, it was all about keeping the required rate under 7. Fakhar, what to tell about him. Just blew away my mind with that knock. The plan was to bat long and one batter has to bat long to chase this down. This is exactly what happened. It was very key and thanks to almighty it went very well today.
Tom Latham (New Zealand captain): Yeah thought we played fantastic cricket. Darly again played a fantastic knock and Chad as well at the top of the order. We were pretty happy at the halfway stage but you can't really do much when someone scores 180. Credit to Fakhar for that. It’s a part of the game we play, They kept on building partnership after partnership. A big tick in the batting department. The wicket here tends to get flat in the evening but we have to create opportunities in the middle overs.
Fakhar Zaman: I try to take some time at the start in one-day cricket. Once you get settled, it becomes easier. Every player works hard on his game at this level. I am no different. If a team like NZ has dropped two catches, have to consider it as my lucky day.
Fakhar Zaman has been named as the 'Player of the Match'
Time for the Post-match Presentation!
Pakistan won by 7 wickets (with 10 deliveries to spare)
New Zealand 336/5 in 50 overs
Daryl Mitchell 129(119) | Tom Latham 98(85) Haris Rauf 4/78(10) | Naseem Shah 1/49(10)
Pakistan 337/3 in 48.2 overs
Fakhar Zaman 180*(144) | Babar Azam 65(66) Henry Shipley 1/58(10) | Matt Henry 1/59(9.2)
What a fantastic run chase from Pakistan as they get over the line quite comfortably in the end. Powered by a superlative knock from Fakhar Zaman, the hosts chased it down with over to 1.4 overs to spare and with 7 wickets in hand. The swashbuckling left-hander went on to remain unbeaten on 180 off 144 deliveries as Pakistan took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Rawalpindi has always been a batter’s paradise so despite scoring more than a competitive score, the Kiwis didn’t look too confident at the halfway mark. Fakhar Zaman and Imam Ul Haq came out with a positive frame of mind right from the outset. Fakhar in particular was in a murderous mood in the powerplay, thrashing the bowlers to all corners of the ground.
It looked as if Pakistan would run away with the game in the powerplay. A score of 336 to defend is always a luxury on any sort of pitches to be honest but the New Zealand bowlers failed to find an answer. The opening partnership was cut short by Matt Henry after a 66-run stand. From there on, it was all Babar and Fakhar up until the latter stages of the match.
Fakhar didn’t leave any loose deliveries away as the boundaries continued to flow for Pakistan. Babar also looked in a dominating mood and struck some delightful shots en route to his half-century. Just when it looked like the duo would steer Pakistan home, Ish Sodhi brought Babar’s downfall with a tossed-up delivery. Fakhar never looked back and found an able ally in Mohammad Rizwan.
The debutant Abdullah Shafique couldn’t quite make a substantial contribution and was dismissed pretty early. However, Rizwan and Fakhar ensured that, Pakistan eventually reached the target without any further hiccups. Rizwan also managed to score a well-compiled half-century as Pakistan won with 10 deliveries to spare.
48.2 Matt Henry to Mohammad Rizwan, PAKISTAN GO 2-0 UP! Back of a length outside-off, Rizwan cuts it to third for a single. Yet another convincing chase from the hosts! They seal the game by seven wickets!
48.1 Matt Henry to Fakhar Zaman, short and angling in, Fakhar pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single
A couple of boundaries to end the over and just two more required for Pakistan. This has been a thoroughly professional run chase and it will only be apt if Fakhar smashes the winning shot.
48
overs
335/3score
0
1
1
0
4
4
runs
Mohammad Rizwan*
53(40)
Fakhar Zaman
179(143)
Jimmy Neesham
0/64
47.6 James Neesham to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR MORE! Short of a length delivery, Rizwan pulls it behind square for another boundary. Sodhi tried his best with a sliding dive but the placement was too good! This also brings up Rizwan's fifty!
47.5 James Neesham to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR! Length delivery outside-off, Rizwan pushes it to mid-off where Mitchell runs to his right and dives over the ball. It races away to the fence as Pakistan are just one big hit away now!
47.4 James Neesham to Mohammad Rizwan, full outside-off, Rizwan drives it to mid-off. No run
47.3 James Neesham to Fakhar Zaman, full-toss on the leg-stump, Fakhar drives it to long-on. Single taken
47.2 James Neesham to Mohammad Rizwan, short and slow outside-off, Rizwan drags the pull shot in front of square for a single
47.1 James Neesham to Mohammad Rizwan, short delivery with width, Rizwan cuts it to point. No run
Jimmy Neesham [8-0-54-0] is back into the attack.
That's the 47th over done and dusted. Just formalities required from here on. Pakistan surely won't squander this from this situation. Just 12 more required off the last 3 overs.
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Mohammad Rizwan
*
Jimmy Neesham
Video
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