• Pakistan pulled off their second-highest ODI run chase against New Zealand on Saturday, April 29.

  • Fakhar Zaman was adjudged the 'Player of the Match' for his unbeaten century.

Twitter reacts as Fakhar Zaman’s 180 propels Pakistan to their second-highest ODI run chase against New Zealand

Pakistan’s second ODI against New Zealand was a dominant display of batting by Fakhar Zaman, who led the team to a seven-wicket victory. The hosts chased a competitive target of 337 with ease, thanks to Fakhar’s stunning performance. He set the pace of the chase from the outset, scoring a half-century opening stand with Imam-ul-Haq and then a match-defining century partnership with skipper Babar Azam.

Even after Babar’s dismissal, Fakhar continued to take on the bowling with ease and received ideal support from Mohammad Rizwan, who helped seal the game with an unbroken 119-run stand. Fakhar’s innings was a display of effortless ease, as he never slowed down and took advantage of the dropped catches by the New Zealand fielders.

Earlier in the day, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham’s performances helped New Zealand set a challenging total. However, the Kiwis lost their momentum in the final five overs, allowing Pakistan to showcase their death bowling skills.

Pakistan’s victory was largely thanks to Fakhar’s majestic 180, which served as the cornerstone of the team’s run chase. His performance was particularly impressive given that he never slowed down at any stage, and his ability to take on the bowling with ease was on full display. Although New Zealand had set a competitive target, Fakhar’s innings made the chase a comfortable one for Pakistan.

While New Zealand had a solid start to their innings, they lost their momentum towards the end. However, their early aggression between overs 41-45, where they scored 61 runs, gave them hope for a score in excess of 350. Nonetheless, Pakistan’s impressive death bowling prevented a final flurry of runs and gave the hosts some much-needed respite.

Brief scores: Pakistan 337-3 in 48.2 overs (Fakhar Zaman 180 not out, Babar Azam 65, Rizwan 54 not out; Henry Shipley 1/58 ) beat New Zealand 336-5 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 129, Tom Latham 98, Chad Bowes 51; Haris Rauf 4/78) by seven wickets.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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ANIRUDH SINGH
Anirudh is the Head of Content at CricketTimes.com. He is a seasoned journalist and content writer with 12 years of experience in the field of cricket. With over 9,000 published articles under his belt, Anirudh brings a creative and strategic approach to his work, always striving to deliver content that resonates with audiences. A die-hard sports fan who loves playing, watching and talking about cricket. Cricket is his Religion & 'Sachin Tendulkar' his GOD. His motto of life is Eat, Sleep, Cricket, REPEAT!! You can write to him at anirudh@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.