HYDERABAD: Rachin Ravindra’s 97, followed by half-centuries from returning Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, and Mark Chapman steered New Zealand to thrash Pakistan by five wickets in the warm-up fixture of the ICC World Cup 2023.
New Zealand batters put on a scintillating show as they lifted their side to chase down a mammoth 346 against Pakistan for the loss of five wickets and 38 balls to spare.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a massive total on the board, on the back of a sensational century by Mohammad Rizwan, followed by skipper Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel’s half-centuries.
Pakistan, however, got off to a contrasting start to their innings as they lost both their openers Imam-ul-Haq (1) and Abdullah Shafique (14) inside 12 overs with just 46 runs on the board.
Following the early slump, Pakistan captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings as the pair notched up a brilliant 114-run stand.
Babar majorly dominated the third-wicket partnership, scoring at a brisk rate before Mitchell Santner finally got rid of the Pakistan captain in the 30th over.
Babar fell 20 short of his century as he fell for an 84-ball 80 which included eight boundaries and two sixes.
Rizwan, however, held his ground firm and soon put together another vital partnership for Pakistan with Saud Shakeel.
The pair added 78 runs to the total before Rizwan finally retired out in the 40th over after amassing his century.
He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a magnificent 103-run knock in just 94 deliveries, hitting nine boundaries and two sixes.
Saud Shakeel then stood up for his team after Rizwan’s departure and bolstered Pakistan’s total at the backend with a quickfire knock.
He smashed five boundaries and four sixes on his way to a 53-ball 75.
Besides Saud, Salman Ali Agha (33* off 23) and Shadab Khan (16 off 11) added vital runs for Pakistan, who finished at a mammoth 345/5 in their first ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up match against New Zealand.
Mitchell Santner was the pick amongst the bowlers for New Zealand, taking two wickets, while Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, and James Neesham made one scalp apiece.
