Chris Brown (New Zealand), Paul Reiffel (Australia), Michael Gough (England, TV)
Referee
Jeff Crowe (New Zealand)
Toss
Pakistan elected to bowl
Pitch Report
The pitch is a little bit cool, and there is some moisture on the surface. It will be interesting to see how New Zealand approaches this. The two new balls could bite into the surface. The batters will want to take some time off and assess the conditions. It has a good covering of grass and will have something for the seamers. Get yourselves in, and there are runs for everyone here
Experts are creating their teams, watch this space
Venue Details
McLean Park, Napier
The pitch is a little bit cool, and there is some moisture on the surface. It will be interesting to see how New Zealand approaches this. The two new balls could bite into the surface. The batters will want to take some time off and assess the conditions. It has a good covering of grass and will have something for the seamers. Get yourselves in, and there are runs for everyone here
The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That brings us to the end of our coverage from this opening ODI between New Zealand and Pakistan. The visitors fought hard and was in the game for a long while but just lost their way towards the end to surrender the lead to New Zealand. We have the IPL carnival going on with MI taking on GT in today's encounter. Do join us then and many more sporting actions on Sportskeeda but for now this is myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Pradeep.
Michael Bracewell (New Zealand captain): That was a great game of ODI cricket. Lots of ebbs and flows. Could apply some of the T20 skills, great to see that ODI cricket is still alive I guess. Yeah I think you try and use your resources as well as you can. We were looking for a few overs somewhere and lucky it came off today for me. Yeah I think it's a great sign for domestic cricket in New Zealand. Guys having little or no experience in international cricket putting up great performances is heartening to see. Yeah I think it's easy when you are doing well and continue that. The way the guys showed fight after losing three wickets, then putting the pressure on the 5th Pakistan bowler. It showed that you stick to your basics both in batting and bowling.
Mohammad Rizwan [Pakistan captain]: The way we started with the run chase with good intent, that was needed and the partnership was good. But we got near to the target and the pressure got to us, lost wickets in heap. After winning the toss, we wanted to make use of the conditions and our bowlers did that. But, we need to improve on it when we have opposition on the mat. We want to improve our middle order batting, the debutants lack experience but they'll get better.
07:15 PM local time (11:45 AM IST): New Zealand won by 73 runs
Mark Chapman 132(111) | Nathan Smith 4/60(8.1) Babar Azam 78(83) | Irfan Khan 3/51(5)
A capitulation only Pakistan is capable of. From a strong position, they lost their last seven wickets for just 22 runs, eventually losing the opening ODI by 73 runs as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three match series. Chasing a massive target of 345 was always going to be a tall order for Pakistan but they found the belief when the opening duo Abdullah Shafique and Usman Khan shared a vital 83 run stand in less than 13 overs.
The duo survived a few close shaves and rode their luck, finding boundaries on a consistent basis. Runs came thick and fast and the New Zealand bowlers felt the heat. Usman Khan charged Jacob Duffy and Will O’Rourke on quite a few occasions. He was beaten for pace but didn't back down.
He smashed 4 fours and a couple of sixes en route to a knock of 39 which came in just 33 deliveries. Abdullah Shafique also struck some delightful shots at the other end. The partnership was broken by Nathan Smith in the 13th over. One brought two as Shafique was also dismissed in the 16th over as he tried to take on Michael Bracewell.
Experienced batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan shared a crucial stand which came in good time as both showed their proactive nature and kept finding boundaries from time to time. Rizwan went for one shot too many and Mitchell Hay took a stunning catch behind the stumps.
The game was turned on its head with a sensational stand between Babar Azam and Agha Salman. The duo took the attack to the New Zealand bowlers as boundaries kept flowing from their blades. They kept finding the boundaries and even struck some amazing sixes to bring down the required rate considerably.
However the dismissal of Babar turned the slide as wickets kept tumbling one after the other. The Pakistan batters didn't show game awareness and fell off the cliff rapidly. Eventually it was New Zealand who bowled them out in the 45th over to take a 1-0 lead.
Mark Chapman is the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: It was tricky earlier on, we were aiming for something low than what we ended up with. It was really important, just trying to absorb pressure and tried to put the pressure back on that and the partnership helped. Abbas' had a dream debut and that helped us to put a good total in the end. You trust your guts in such situation with the ball moving around, the ball got older and we were able to score freely. Little bit of a hamstring tweak, not ideal but hopefully back for next game.
07:06 PM local time (11:36 AM IST): Buoy oh buoy, what an absolute turnaround in the game. Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 22 runs as New Zealand take a 1-0 lead in the series. When Babar Azam and Agha Salman was going great guns, Pakistan seemed to have the run chase in their grasp but the loss of Babar opened the floodgates and there was no way back for Pakistan. They will be very disappointed with the capitulation after dominating the game for a considerable amount of time in both the innings.
Akif Javed has been dismissed for 1 runs off 3 balls
44.1 Nathan Smith to Akif Javed, OUT! MILES UP IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! And that is that, New Zealand finish a clinical win and go 1-0 up in the series! On a length on off-stump, Javed launches this one into the orbit. O'Rourke runs in from deep mid-wicket, dives and pouches it safely to seal the game.
That's the end of the 44th over and it's only a matter of time now before New Zealand finishes it off. Pakistan have lost their last six wickets for just 22 runs. From a position of strength, they are now staring down at a heavy defeat.
44
overs
271/9score
1
0
1
W
0
0
runs
Mohammad Ali*
0(2)
Akif Javed
1(2)
Jacob Duffy
2/57
43.6 Jacob Duffy to Mohammad Ali, back of a length on middle and off. Ali right behind it and defends it down to mid-on for no run.
43.5 Jacob Duffy to Mohammad Ali, back of a length, shaping in on fifth stump. Ali hangs back and let's it go to the keeper.
Mohammad Ali batting at 11th position
That is the final nail in the coffin for Pakistan as they lose Agha Salman. The umpires wanna have a look but Bracewell seems to have taken it cleanly here. Yes the fingers are underneath the ball and Pakistan lose their 9th wicket.
Agha Salman has been dismissed for 58 runs off 48 balls
43.4 Jacob Duffy to Agha Salman, OUT! BRACEWELL TAKES A STUNNER! That's the final nail in the coffin for Pakistan. Umpire wants to have a check on the a catch though. Back of a length outside the off-stump, Salman smacked it to mid-off. Bracewell diving forward, gets his hands underneath to finish the catch.
Yes, that has neatly carried into the hands of Bracewell, Salman has to go.
43.3 Jacob Duffy to Akif Javed, OH! In the air and doesn't carry to Bracewell at mid-off. Short into the batter, Javed mistimes the pull towards mid-off, they get a single.
43.2 Jacob Duffy to Akif Javed, full in the channel, Javed drives, but straight to covers.
43.1 Jacob Duffy to Agha Salman, OH! Change of pace, short outside the off-stump. Salman backs away to cut, but top edged it to deep covers. Ashok doesn't really go after the catch, not sure what happened there as it falls safely. Duffy can't believe it.
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Mohammad Ali
*
Jacob Duffy
Video
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McLean Park, Napier
