In the first match of the 3-match ODI series, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 73 runs. The host New Zealand scored 344 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs, Mark Chapman scored 132 runs and Daryl Mitchell scored 76 runs.
In the first match of the ODI series between New Zealand and Pakistan, captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and invited New Zealand to bat.
In pursuit of New Zealand’s target of 345 runs, Pakistan started the innings with opener Abdullah Shafiq and Usman Khan. Opener Usman Khan 39 and Abdullah Shafiq fell victim to the Kiwi bowlers for 36 runs, after which Pakistan’s third wicket of captain Muhammad Rizwan fell for 30 runs. National team batsman Babar Azam batted responsibly but Babar got out after scoring 78 off 83 balls.
After Babar Azam, all the national wickets fell one after the other, Tayyab Tahir 1, Irfan Khan Safar, Naseem Shah Safar, Haris Rauf 1, Akif Javed 1 and Muhammad Ali Safar were out for runs and thus the entire Pakistan team was out for 271 in 44 overs and one ball.
Apart from this, debutant Muhammad Abbas scored 52 runs off 26 balls, which included 3 sixes and 3 fours. For Pakistan, Irfan Khan got 3 wickets while Haris Rauf and Akif Javed got 2 each, Naseem Shah and Muhammad Ali dismissed one player each.
