New Zealand kicked off the tri-series in style, securing a dominant 78-run victory over Pakistan in the opening match.
Glenn Phillips stole the show with a blistering knock, smashing 77 runs off just 32 balls to bring up his maiden international century. His late onslaught helped New Zealand post a formidable total, putting Pakistan on the back foot. Fakhar Zaman tried to mount a challenge, but Phillips dismissed him at a crucial moment to seal the win for his team.
Batting first, New Zealand set a challenging target of 331, before restricting Mohammad Rizwan’s side to 252 runs, claiming a comfortable victory in Lahore.
Injury Scares for Both Teams
Both sides suffered injury setbacks during the match. Speedster Haris Rauf had to leave the field midway through his seventh over and did not return to bat. On the other hand, Rachin Ravindra lost sight of a high catch under the floodlights, and the ball struck his forehead. After receiving medical attention, the talented batter walked off the field with the physio.
These injuries raise concerns for both teams ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy. While Pakistan’s performance may worry their coach and captain, New Zealand will take plenty of positives from the match, especially Phillips’ record-breaking century.
Phillips Delivers a Match-Winning Performance
It was a flawless day for Phillips. He smashed an unbeaten 106 off just 74 balls, hammering seven sixes and six fours. He also contributed in the field by taking a catch and bowling three overs, where he claimed the crucial wicket of Fakhar Zaman. His all-round brilliance rightfully earned him the Player of the Match award.
New Zealand Overcomes Early Setbacks
Winning the toss and opting to bat, New Zealand had a rocky start. Will Young edged behind in the very first over bowled by Shaheen Afridi, while Rachin Ravindra’s aggressive start was cut short by Abrar Ahmed.
At 42/2, Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell built a solid partnership, with Williamson anchoring the innings and Mitchell maintaining the scoring rate. Their 95-run stand ended when Afridi dismissed Williamson for 58. Haris Rauf then removed Tom Latham for a duck, leaving New Zealand at 135/4 in the 28th over.
That’s when Phillips stepped in and turned the game on its head. Initially, he played a supporting role alongside Mitchell, who scored 81 off 84 balls. After Mitchell departed, Phillips shifted gears, first building a 54-run stand with Michael Bracewell before unleashing an explosive assault in the final overs. His 26-ball partnership with Mitchell Santner produced a staggering 76 runs, pushing New Zealand past the 330-mark.
Shaheen Afridi finished with three wickets but conceded a costly 88 runs in his 10 overs. Haris Rauf, who left the field due to injury, bowled just 6.2 overs, conceding 23 runs for one wicket. Meanwhile, Naseem Shah struggled, going wicketless in his 10-over spell while giving away 70 runs.
Fakhar Zaman’s Lone Battle Falls Short
Pakistan’s chase revolved around Fakhar Zaman, who played an aggressive knock on his return to the team. However, his efforts went in vain as none of the other batters could provide significant support.
Babar Azam (10), Kamran Ghulam (18), and Rizwan (3) all fell cheaply, leaving Fakhar to carry the burden. He smashed four sixes and seven fours in his 69-ball 84 before falling to Phillips in the 24th over, trapped LBW. His dismissal all but ended Pakistan’s hopes.
Despite brief contributions from Salman Agha (40), Saud Shakeel (30), and tailenders adding some runs, Pakistan failed to mount a serious comeback. They kept losing wickets regularly and were eventually bowled out in 47.5 overs, falling 78 runs short.
New Zealand’s Bowling Dominates
Santner led the bowling attack with a captain’s performance, taking 3 for 41. Matt Henry also picked up three wickets for 53 runs. Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips chipped in with crucial wickets to wrap up the game.
With this commanding win, New Zealand will now face South Africa in their next tri-series match on Monday.
Match Summary:
- New Zealand – 330/6 in 50 overs
(W. Young 4, R. Ravindra 25, K. Williamson 58, T. Latham 0, G. Phillips 106*, M. Bracewell 31, M. Santner 8*; S. Afridi 3/88, A. Ahmed 2/41, H. Rauf 1/23) - Pakistan – 252 all out in 47.5 overs
(F. Zaman 84, B. Azam 10, K. Ghulam 18, M. Rizwan 3, S. Agha 40, S. Shakeel 30, K. Shah 15, S. Afridi 10, N. Shah 13, A. Ahmed 23*; M. Henry 3/53, M. Bracewell 2/41, M. Santner 3/41, G. Phillips 1/18)
Result: New Zealand won by 78 runs.
Player of the Match: Glenn Phillips (106*, 1 wicket, 1 catch)
