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| Pakistan's win and Fakhar Zaman's 180 runs: 'Fakhar is the player of the big match, today was Fakhar's day |
Thanks to opener Fakhar Zaman's 180 runs, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by seven wickets in the second ODI match.
Chasing the Kiwis' target of 337 runs, Pakistan completed the score for the loss of three wickets in the 49th over to clinch their second successive series victory.
In the match played in Rawalpindi, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first against New Zealand.
Chasing New Zealand's target of 337 runs, Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman and Imamul Haq started the innings solidly and the first wicket fell on 66 runs when Imam was dismissed for 24 runs.
After that, captain Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman played a responsible inning and established a partnership of 135 runs, but Babar scored 65 runs and lost his wicket on the ball of Sodhi.
Pakistan's third wicket fell to Abdullah Shafiq who was dismissed for just seven runs.
On the fourth wicket, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar made a partnership of more than 100 runs, thanks to which Pakistan achieved the big target of 337 runs for the loss of three wickets in the 49th over.
Fakhar Zaman remained unbeaten by scoring 180 runs with the help of six sixes and 17 fours, Mohammad Rizwan was also not out by scoring 54 runs.
Fakhar Zaman also scored a century against New Zealand in the first match. He also completed his three thousand runs.
New Zealand's innings
On behalf of New Zealand, Will Young and Chad Bowes opened the innings, but the first wicket of the Kiwis fell on a total score of 33 and Will Young was dismissed by Haris Rauf after scoring 19 runs.
Chad Bose completed his half-century but on the same score, Haris Rauf ended Bose's innings of 51 runs giving the team another win.
After New Zealand's two wickets fell, New Zealand captain Tom Latham came in to support Daryl Mitchell, and both of them put on an excellent performance to take down the Pakistani bowlers.
Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham played a responsible inning and formed a partnership of 183 runs. Mitchell was dismissed for 129 runs.
Mitchell's innings of 129 runs came to an end at the hands of Naseem Shah with the help of three sixes and eight fours off 119 balls.
After that, Tom Latham was also a victim of nervous nineties and was caught out on 98 runs by Harris Roofe. His innings included eight fours and one six.
New Zealand scored 336 runs for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 50 overs. On behalf of Pakistan, Haris Rauf took four wickets while doing the best bowling while one wicket went to Naseem Shah.
After this victory, Pakistan has taken a 0-2 lead in the five ODI series.
Today was the day of proud times.
Social media users are not tired of boasting about Pakistan's win against New Zealand in the second ODI and Fakhar Zaman's brilliant innings of 180 runs.
On the aggressive and brilliant innings of the Pakistani opener, former Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul tweeted that 'Today's match was once again like a walk in the park for Fakhar Zaman with this brilliant century. Congratulations to the Pakistani team on yet another success. Now eyes are on the next win to win the series.
Commenting on the Pakistani team's runs, a user named Sherry wrote, "Despite the flat pitches, whether they are straight pitches like motorways or highways, I have never seen the Pakistani team chasing the target so easily."
Chasing more than 250 runs used to be a nightmare for us in the past. This pleasant change is due to Babar Azam's confidence in his players Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, and Mohammad Rizwan. I could never imagine. We will have this strong batting line-up in ODIs. Thank God for being a fan of the Pakistan cricket team and as fans we deserve it.