Pakistan achieved a hard-earned 26-run victory over New Zealand in the third one-day international (ODI) match in Karachi, marking their first ODI series win against the team in 12 years.
Batting first, Pakistan posted 287-6 on the scoreboard in their stipulated 50 overs, with Imam-ul-Haq scoring 90 runs off 107 balls and Babar Azam adding 54 runs off 62 balls. Matt Henry was the best bowler for New Zealand, with 3/54.
In reply, New Zealand started strongly, with Tom Blundell and Will Young giving the team a confident opening stand of 83 runs in 15.3 overs. However, Pakistan finally broke through with Young’s run-out before Wasim dismissed Daryl Mitchell for 21. Blundell also got run-out after in an attempt to snatch the second run.
In the final overs, debutant Cole McConchie tried valiantly to pull off a victory for the Blackcaps, but he ran out of partners.
With this win, Pakistan have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, having already won the first two games in Rawalpindi by comprehensive margins.
Brief scores: Pakistan 287-6 in 50 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 90, Babar Azam 54; Matt Henry 3/54) beat New Zealand 261 all out in 49.1 overs (Tom Blundell 65, Cole McConchie 64 not out; Naseem Shah 2/42) by 26 runs
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
And that’s another thumping win for us! 3-0 up. Great performances by all the boys, especially, @ImamUlHaq12 bhai, @babarazam258 bhai, @76Shadabkhan bhai and Agha. We will make it 5-0 now. InshaAllah #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/gR8lRCboL9
— Muhammad Wasim Jr (@Wasim_Jnr) May 3, 2023
CONGRATULATIONS Team Green on winning an ODI series against New Zealand 🇳🇿 After 12 Years👏🏼👏🏼 Great Match today Wonderful batting by Imam,Babar and Rizwan once again..followed By great bowling of Naseem ,Wasim jr and co.
Next Target No 1 ODI team🎯#PAKvNZ @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/wUmAK6L96b— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) May 3, 2023
Alhamdullilah for the win today. Enjoyed every moment of it!
All eyes are on the next game now…💪#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/vqWJuTPKBa— Naseem Shah (@iNaseemShah) May 3, 2023
Pakistan won ODI Series against New Zealand for the first time after 2011, and Babar Azam also became the First Pakistan captain to win the ODI Series against three SENA countries(Australia, South Africa and New Zealand). It’s Babar Azam Era, Alhamdulillah ♥️🇵🇰. #PakvNZ #NZvsPAK… pic.twitter.com/GRzyuxi2nb
— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) May 3, 2023
All class as @babarazam258 thumps a six over long-off 💥#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/MjAkcdJAKA
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 3, 2023
Pakistan takes 3-0 inaccessible lead in the five-match series: https://t.co/AINJDgHV7G#PAKvNZ #3rdODI #cricket #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/HzddYCzoej
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 4, 2023
Pakistan won the third ODI and the series.#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/t7aafvIIxG
— Multan Sultans (@MultanSultans) May 3, 2023
Pakistan won the ODI series after 12 years under the captaincy of King Babar Azam, Congratulations 🇵🇰👏#BabarAzam #BabarAzam𓃵 #PAKvNZ
https://t.co/hh1zpsRlZU— King Babar Azam Army (@kingbabararmy) May 3, 2023
Series sealed ✅
Next mission: No. 1 Team In ODI RankingsBring it on! 🙌#PAKvNZ #UnitedWeWin pic.twitter.com/je1NMST1D5
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) May 3, 2023
.@ImamUlHaq12 is player of the match for his outstanding 9️⃣0️⃣ 🏆#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/CQTCnB36tF
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 3, 2023
It takes lot of GUTS and TALENT to take your team to No.1 Rank on the ICC rankings even after many OPPONENT PLAYERS skip series against your team.
But King Babar has led this team from front despite knowing that he has to play against B/C teams everytime. The greatest. #PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/r1lHb03xHC
— 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚 (@kirikraja) May 4, 2023
