KARACHI: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 47 runs in the final and the fifth match of the one-day international (ODI) series in Karachi on Sunday. Although Iftikhar Ahmed put in a solid effort to help Pakistan chase down 300 runs, New Zealand’s bowlers were too strong, ultimately bowling out Pakistan for 252 runs.
Iftikhar scored an impressive 94 not out, including eight boundaries and two maximums, while Agha Salman contributed 57 runs. Despite their unbeaten 97-run partnership, Pakistan was unable to survive, and New Zealand’s Henry Shipley and Rachin Ravindra each took three wickets. With this loss, Pakistan also lost their top spot in the ICC ODI rankings.
Earlier in the match, Pakistani bowlers managed to bowl out New Zealand for 299 runs in the first innings. Will Young led the visitors with 87 runs off 91 balls, including eight boundaries and two maximums. Young and Henry Nicholls put up a strong partnership of 51 runs, and Young later teamed up with captain
Tom Latham for a 74-run partnership, with Latham contributing 59 runs. Mark Chapman also gained momentum but was ultimately taken down by Shadab Khan after scoring 43 runs off 33 balls.
Shaheen Afridi took 3 wickets, while Shadab Khan and Usama Mir each took two wickets. Despite New Zealand’s initial strong performance, Pakistani bowlers managed to control the flow of runs in the last phase of the innings, keeping the visitors below the 300-run mark.
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 47 runs in fifth ODI
