Fakhar Zaman played a crucial knock for Pakistan in the first innings (Source: Twitter)
Glenn Phillips' blitz and half-centuries from Devon Conway and Kane Williamson powered New Zealand to an impressive win over Pakistan in the third and last match of the three-match series contested at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday, January 13.
Fakhar, Rizwan power Pakistan to a competitive total
After winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam elected to bat first in the decider. The hosts did not get off to the best of starts as opener Shan Masood, playing his first game as the vice-captain, was dismissed without troubling the scorers for a duck.
The left-handed batter edged a delivery of Lockie Ferguson in his first over to give New Zealand an early edge. Babar, who scored the fifties in the first two matches of the series, was stumped off the bowling of Michael Bracewell after scoring just four runs.
Following the loss of early wickets Fakhar and Rizwan scripted a remarkable turnaround for Pakistan as they added 154 runs for the third wicket which brought Pakistan back into the game.
The duo were looking to amass the 300-run mark before leg spinner Ish Sodhi bamboozled Rizwan with a googly and brought an end to a 79-run knock. Fakhar continued on his merry way and got to his eighth ODI century before being run out by Henry Nicholls. Agha Salman's cameo of 45 (43) helped Pakistan to a fighting total of 280/9.
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")
