Recent Match Report – Pakistan vs New Zealand 3rd ODI 2022/23

New Zealand 281 for 8 (Phillips 63*, Williamson 53, Conway 52, Salman 2-42) beat Pakistan 280 for 9 (Fakhar 101, Rizwan 77, Southee 3-56) by two wickets

Glenn Phillips produced a counter-attacking masterclass to wrest the match – and with it, the series – from Pakistan’s grasp, slamming an unbeaten 63 off 42 balls to see off New Zealand in their chase of 281. The hosts had one hand on the trophy of the series when the visitors were required for another 76 off 71 deliveries with just four wickets in hand. Phillips, already on 16 balls from 8 at the time after pumping two sixes, sealed New Zealand’s first ODI series win of at least two matches against Pakistan on their home soil with 11 balls to spare.

Despite an upset stomach, Phillips hit four fours and a six each to dramatically turn the match into a narrow affair. New Zealand required 75 off the last 69 balls when he hit Mohammad Wasim at mid-on for four, before swinging Haris Rauf for a six at deep midwicket. And when Wasim tried the slower ball soon after, he was deposited outside long-on for another six.

As a result, New Zealand needed less than a run a ball with nine overs remaining, at which point Phillips slotted Rauf through extra cover for another four. He brought up his fifty of 28 deliveries – New Zealand’s second-fastest against Pakistan in ODIs – in the 43rd over. And as if to snuff out the last hope Pakistan had, Mohammad Rizwan bowled the next ball from Phillips, failing to hold the ball when a short one from Usama Mir turned and took the off side.

Had that been taken, New Zealand would have been left in a sticky situation, with only Mitchell Santner and the tail to get 35 runs from seven overs with three wickets in hand. The sense of what might have been may have lingered in the minds of the opposition as they watched Phillips hit the winning runs.

New Zealand had slumped from 160 for 2 to 205 for 6, giving Pakistan a sniff. Their chase was set to fifties by Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, who added 75 for the second wicket. Conway fell to 52 after scoring to point out Agha Salman, who also had Daryl Mitchell caught in the 31st over. Williamson was out for 53, and Bracewell and Tom Latham were cut in quick succession as New Zealand lost their way.

Fakhar a hundred, Rizvan fifty in vain

Earlier in the day, it was a three-piece innings by Pakistan: reduced to 21 for 2, they needed Fakhar Zaman and Rizwan to bail them out with a partnership of 153, before Salman took charge at the death. Fakhar scored 101 in an innings not usually associated with him, taking 122 deliveries to reach the mark, while Rizwan fell to a 77 off 74 quick balls. These remained the only notable contributions from the top five, before Salman hit four fours and a six in a thrilling innings of 45. When Ish Sodhi cleaned up Rizwan with a googly in the 34th over, at least 300 looked likely but tidy wickets kept the hosts in check on a surface where the ball did not turn.

Pakistan had lost Shan Masood – playing his first ODI since March 2019 – and Babar Azam early, when Williamson reviewed a no-decision against Masood and Latham stumped Babar for the third time in as many matches. Williamson seemed to be the only one who believed that Masood had fallen behind, before Babar played for the turn and lost his balance at the crease.

This meant that Fakhar and Rizwan had to start all over again. Williamson had introduced the spin from the fifth over, with Fakhar deciding to break the shackles when he tickled and hit Santner for four in the tenth over. Overall though, the left-hander was happy to just push it while Rizwan was busier at the crease.

And once Rizwan fell in the 34th over, New Zealand’s replacement bowlers played a part in almost every wicket to fall from there on: Henry Nicholls ran Fakhar and Haris Sohail and caught Mir at deep midwicket and Doug Bracewell got Salman back 45. when the batter opened up to deep square leg. As if to return the favour, it was Pakistan substitute Tayyab Tahir who dismissed Finn Allen to give his side a breakthrough.

But eventually, Phillips would have the last word, obliterating Fakhar’s century, Rizwani’s strike and perhaps everything else that had happened in the tournament.