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Pakistan’s chase of New Zealand’s 293-run target fell apart at Seddon Park on Wednesday, as they were bowled out for 208 in the second ODI. Despite a brave half-century from Faheem Ashraf, the Green Shirts couldn’t recover from a shaky start and now face an uphill battle in the third ODI, set to take place on April 5.
With this win, New Zealand has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, leaving Pakistan with little room for error as they head into the final game of the series.
Early Struggles for Pakistan
Pakistan’s chase got off to a disastrous start, with Abdullah Shafique falling early for just 1, caught by O’Rourke off the bowling of Ben Sears. Imam-ul-Haq (3) and the in-form Babar Azam (1) also failed to make an impact, both dismissed cheaply by Jacob Duffy. With three wickets down for just 6 runs, Pakistan was left on the back foot.
The pressure continued to mount as Mohammad Rizwan (5) and Salman Agha (9) also departed early, leaving Pakistan at a precarious 42-5. Tayyab Tahir (13) briefly attempted to stabilize the innings but was unable to withstand the pressure from New Zealand’s bowlers, who continued to dominate the Pakistani batting lineup.
Faheem Ashraf’s Fighting Knock
At 42-5, it was all but over for Pakistan, but Faheem Ashraf had other ideas. The all-rounder played a gutsy knock, holding the innings together and reaching a well-deserved half-century. He was the only Pakistani batter who looked in control, striking 73 runs off 80 deliveries. His partnership with Mohammad Wasim Jr (1) and Akif Javed (8) proved to be short-lived as they lost their wickets quickly, and Pakistan found themselves at 114-8 in the 28th over.
An unfortunate incident further compounded Pakistan’s woes when Haris Rauf was struck on the head, suffering a concussion and leaving the field. Naseem Shah was brought in as his concussion replacement, and the two fast bowlers formed a vital 50-run stand for the ninth wicket, taking Pakistan to 165-8 in 36 overs. However, their partnership came to an end when Faheem was dismissed for 73 by Ben Sears, leaving Pakistan at 174-9 in the 37th over.
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Naseem Shah’s Maiden ODI Fifty
Despite the mounting pressure, Naseem Shah continued to battle. He reached his maiden ODI fifty in just 41 balls, showcasing resilience in a difficult situation. Unfortunately for Pakistan, they couldn’t manage to build on Naseem’s efforts, and the innings came to a close with Pakistan being bowled out for 208 in just 41.2 overs. Ben Sears finished the match with figures of 5/49, dismissing Naseem (51) and leaving Sufiyan Muqeem stranded on 13 not out.
New Zealand’s Strong Start
Earlier in the match, New Zealand got off to a solid start with a 50-run opening partnership between debutant Rhys Mariu and Nick Kelly. However, the Pakistani bowlers struck back, with Haris Rauf dismissing Kelly for 31 and Mohammad Wasim Jr removing Mariu for 18. At 71-2, New Zealand was in a relatively strong position.
Daryl Mitchell (18) fell to Sufiyan Muqeem, while Henry Nicholls was dismissed for 22, leaving the Black Caps at 102-4. Captain Michael Bracewell and Muhammad Abbas added 30 runs before Wasim Jr removed Abbas for 17, leaving New Zealand at 132-5.
Mitchell Hay’s Late Blitz
Despite the wickets falling, Mitchell Hay stood firm for New Zealand, scoring 41 runs off 66 balls and contributing to a crucial 77-run partnership with Abbas. Hay continued his impressive run, bringing up his half-century before being dismissed for 52. Faheem Ashraf claimed Nathan Smith’s wicket (8), and Rizwan ran out Ben Sears for a duck, reducing New Zealand to 270-8.
Hay’s late flurry in the final over took New Zealand to a competitive total of 292. With the help of a solid lower-order contribution, the Black Caps set Pakistan a challenging target.
