Pakistan (337/3) take a 2-0 lead after an emphatic 7-wicket victory over New Zealand (336/5)

[imshally81]

Another boundary... This time is Fakhar

 

[ammar_merry]

Rizwan looking confident.

 

[imshally81]

Good shot by Rizwan... 4 runs

 

[ammar_merry]

Wow rizwan

 

[PakPremi]

Babar is very weak against quality spin

No he is not and that was not quality spin either, he just spanked Sodhi in the same over, he was just over attacking.

 

[Ahmed216]

Abdullah must be in 2 minds. He stopped half half way playing big shot probably

Trying to loft a waist length ball over the bowlers head with vertical bat. Awful shot.
He is preoccupied with how he looks while batting. Doesn’t even watch the ball properly. Zero tailunt fake technique

 

[imshally81]

14 runs in last over

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I have always maintained that it all starts from school. We lack in everything including entertainment which is a professional industry. Once we evolve to become a literate society, all the dynamics will change. One day…

We wouldn't have been a third world country if system was well, followed and respected.

 

[ammar_merry]

Rizwan form in the middle order will be defining for pakistan in world cup.

 

[imshally81]

Good running

 

[PakPremi]

Rizwan has been in great form lately.

 

[imshally81]

Necessary break from M Rizwan

 

[Justcrazy]

Fakhar needs to bat through here , he has opportunity to get a big hundred.

 

[msb314]

Rizwan is such a drama

 

[imshally81]

Still 4 overs of spin are remaining...

 

[imshally81]

Rizwan gone

 

[BunnyRabbit]

81 of 11 overs are very chaseable but we don't exactly have a reliable middle order that does well.

 

[imshally81]

Flat line... Not out... Great review by Rizwan

 

[imshally81]

4 runs by Rizwan

 

[ammar_merry]

Shot riz...

 

[ammar_merry]

Refreshing from Riz. No strike rate issues.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Rizwan has showed a lot more urgency in this series and it bodes well.

The other good thing is he has intentionally played straight down the ground.

Fakhar will stay till the end hopefully.

 

[imshally81]

8 runs in last over

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan 73 runs required , 10 overs left.

 

[imshally81]

Good running...

 

[imshally81]

Edged n 44

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Its crazy how far Pakistan have been ahead compared to New Zealand in terms of runs

 

[ammar_merry]

Fakhar showing Great fitness.

 

[imshally81]

10 runs in last over

39 runs in last 4 overs

 

[ammar_merry]

Fakhar Zaman 210
Saeed Anwar 194
Fakhar Zaman 193
Imran Nazir 160

Fakhar has the chance to surpass 4th highest ODI score by Pakistan batter.

 

[imshally81]

What a shot... 4 runs

 

[CricVet]

Trying to loft a waist length ball over the bowlers head with vertical bat. Awful shot.
He is preoccupied with how he looks while batting. Doesn’t even watch the ball properly. Zero tailunt fake technique

I did not get to see the entire shot, but from the glimpse of it, looked very ugly. I never saw the replay as well. I disagree with the talent. He is still better than many in the unprofessional cricket structure of the country!

 

[imshally81]

150 for Fakhar..

 

[CricVet]

Well done Fakhar. We need all of his confidence going into the WC

 

[imshally81]

Fakhar Zaman 210
Saeed Anwar 194
Fakhar Zaman 193
Imran Nazir 160

Fakhar has the chance to surpass 4th highest ODI score by Pakistan batter.

Saeed Anwar was ahead his time..

 

[jattafridi]

Fakhar Power

New Zealand in big trouble

 

[imshally81]

Six by Fakhar

 

[imshally81]

That's why you need a sixth bowler or part timer...

 

[CricVet]

We wouldn't have been a third world country if system was well, followed and respected.

That is the gist of all.

 

[imshally81]

Another 6 in a over

 

[Major]

if only he could get another 200

 

[CricVet]

Fakhar’s decision making in the middle of running between the wickets is spine chilling

 

[BunnyRabbit]

3 of the top 4 Pakistani highest individual scores are Fakhar's. The guy knows how to go big.

 

[msb314]

Fakhar’s decision making in the middle of running between the wickets is spine chilling

What do you mean?

 

[CricVet]

Burry Kiwis in this over

 

[Justcrazy]

84 runs partnership in 10 obers , this has sealed the game for Pakistan.

 

[imshally81]

What a hit.... 6 runs

 

[CricVet]

What do you mean?

He brings the heart in mouth with his indecision in the middle of running between the wicket

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Fakhar is bullying NZ.

 

[Justcrazy]

Fakhar Zaman 210
Saeed Anwar 194
Fakhar Zaman 193
Imran Nazir 160

Fakhar has the chance to surpass 4th highest ODI score by Pakistan batter.

He has done it !

 

[CricVet]

I think Fakhar heard my subliminal messages

 

[sam_ahm]

Incredible knock by Fakhar Zaman, he has this ability to score daddy hundreds.

 

[Justcrazy]

Not enough runs for Fakhar to get double hundred here , but he still can get to 190s here

 

[CricVet]

He will be justified in trying to finish the game being not out. There is no need to go for almighty shots… and he dis

 

[Caved12]

I guess King Fakhar did not like getting dropped from that 5th T20i against NZ

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

100(72) partnership - Game changer!

 

[NeVerMind]

Fakhar the hero and Naseem, the unsung hero again....

 

[JibranAnsari]

So fakhar isnt scoring boundaries so rizwan could get his 50 and rizwan not hiting so he wont get out

 

[CricVet]

So fakhar isnt scoring boundaries so rizwan could get his 50 and rizwan not hiting so he wont get out

Interesting conundrum LOL..well put

 

[NeVerMind]

Another 50 for Riz...well played

 

[SpiritOf1903]

BIPOLAR PAKISTAN ?!


Shabash

 

[ammar_merry]

So fakhar isnt scoring boundaries so rizwan could get his 50 and rizwan not hiting so he wont get out

Good back to back innings by Riz Cool.

 

[NeVerMind]

Imam, Fakhar, Babar and Riz...solid top 4

 

[JibranAnsari]

Wonderful knock by fakhar , babar missed out on an easy 100. He needs to develop his game against spinners.

 

[CricVet]

Imam, Fakhar, Babar and Riz...solid top 4

Imam being the weakest link against top bowlers

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan won by 7 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)

 

[Savak]

Pakistani bowlers need to pull their socks up in ODI Cricket, it looks like so much T-20 cricket has made the bowlers unfit and unable to bowl at a 100% in ODI's, the batters are not going to rescue the bowlers while successfully chasing 350 scores every time.

 

[boomboomcheema]

What an innings by Fakhar.. Shame there weren't enough runs for him to get his 200. Could have got it too considering the form that he was in.

 

[CricVet]

Wonderful knock by fakhar , babar missed out on an easy 100. He needs to develop his game against spinners.

Today though, it was not the bowling, it us Babar himself was to blame for lack of concentration

 

[MenInG]

 

[JibranAnsari]

Today though, it was not the bowling, it us Babar himself was to blame for lack of concentration

Beaten in the flight

 

[CricVet]

Beaten in the flight

He did not even reach the ball to maneuver. It was such a lazy effort as if he is too bored to play the ball

 

[Kianig89]

Another convincing win for Pakistan against a depleted side, Southee Boult Santner Ferguson Williamson Phillips the core of NZ side missing for obvious reason

 

[CricVet]

Another convincing win for Pakistan against a depleted side, Southee Boult Santner Ferguson Williamson Phillips the core of NZ side missing for obvious reason

Their first side would have trouble beating Pak in Pak in ODIs as well

 

[MenInG]

Babar: As a captain, it's very satisfying. Main thing is to be able to read situations. When I went in, we were trying to go six an over, seven an over. It's one of the best innings I've seen. 20-30 runs too many we conceded. But the way Fakhar built his innings, and the partnerships we had one after the other was key.

Latham: Daryl played a fantastic innings. Halfway mark we were pretty happy. Full credit to Fakhar, played an outstanding knock. That's the nature of cricket, happens (talking about the dropped catches). They were able to build partnership after partnership. Big tick in the batting department. Have done that well in the last couple of games. Wickets here tend to be flat. Have to create more chances in the middle phases.

Fakhar, Player of the Match: I try to take some time at the start in one-day cricket. Every player works hard on his game at this level. Same with me. If a team like NZ has dropped two catches, have to consider it as my lucky day. Rizwan told me to hang in there, and that he'll take the risks.

 

[jattafridi]

Need better performance from Babar
1 Billion fans waiting for Century

 

[MenInG]

Fakhar Zaman’s unbeaten century leads Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the second ODI at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on Saturday evening. This was Fakhar Zaman’s third successive hundred in the 50-over format – all three coming against New Zealand this year.

Left-handed Fakhar ended-up scoring 180 not out – his third best individual score in this format. He faced 144 balls and struck 17 fours and six towering sixes. During the course of the innings, Fakhar also completed his 3,000 ODI runs. Chasing 337 to win, Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq once again provided a solid start to the innings and the pair added 66 runs in 9.4 overs before Imam fell to Matt Henry for 24 off 26 balls, hitting three fours.

At that stage, Fakhar was joined by Babar Azam and the duo knitted a 135-run partnership for the second wicket. During the partnership, the world number one batter Babar brought up his 25th half-century. He scored 65 off 66, which included five fours and a six when he was caught by Chad Bowes off Ish Sodhi. Abdullah Shafique (7, 14b) was next to return back to the hut with Pakistan 218 for three in 34.1 overs and still requiring 119 runs off 95 balls.

At that point of the match, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar got together and the pair scored runs at ease and helped Pakistan achieved the target with 10 ball to spare. Fakhar, who was playing 67th ODI brought up his 10th century. Rizwan also brought up his ninth half-century during the match. He returned undefeated on 54 off 41 balls, smashing six fours.

Earlier, after being put into bat, New Zealand scored 336 for five in their allotted 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell was once again amongst the runs as the right-handed batter scored yet another century. He added 86 runs for the second wicket with Chad Bowes (51, 51b, 7x4s) and knitted a 183-run partnership for the third wicket with skipper Tom Latham – who missed out on eighth ODI century by two runs. Tom’s innings included eight fours and one six.

Mitchell top-scored for his side with a 119-ball 129, which included eight fours and three sixes.

For the home side, right-arm fast Haris Rauf bagged four wickets for 78 runs from 10 overs. Making his ODI debut Ihsanullah couldn’t get a wicket and gave away 60 runs from eight overs.

After taking a 2-0 lead in the series, both sides will now travel to Karachi and will feature in the remaining three ODIs of the five-match series. The third ODI is scheduled to take place at the National Bank Stadium on 3 May.

Scores in brief:

Pakistan beat New Zealand by seven wickets

New Zealand 336-5, 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 129, Tom Latham 98, Chad Bowes 51; Haris Rauf 4-78)

Pakistan 337-3, 48.2 overs (Fakhar Zaman 180 not out, Babar Azam 65, Mohammad Rizwan 54 not out)

Player of the match – Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)

 

[MenInG]

Highlights of the game

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[MenInG]

More quotes from Fakhar Zaman post match interview

"Babar was telling me to take singles and doubles and to focus on playing a long innings. He said if risks are needed, he'll take them, because if I stayed there, they wouldn't be able to bowl the left-arm spinner, and we would disrupt their plans," Fakhar Zaman said in post-match interview.

"Everyone knows what a big batsman Babar is. His mindset is very different from others – he never comes under pressure, even if the required rate is rising. He kept telling me to stay calm, and that we'll chase the runs easily"

 

[Rana]

More quotes from Fakhar Zaman post match interview

"Babar was telling me to take singles and doubles and to focus on playing a long innings. He said if risks are needed, he'll take them, because if I stayed there, they wouldn't be able to bowl the left-arm spinner, and we would disrupt their plans," Fakhar Zaman said in post-match interview.

"Everyone knows what a big batsman Babar is. His mindset is very different from others – he never comes under pressure, even if the required rate is rising. He kept telling me to stay calm, and that we'll chase the runs easily"

Babar wanted Fakhar to stay in at the crease so that NZ don’t bring on the left arm spinner? Why? Is Babar worried about facing him?