PAK vs NZ: Shadab Khan believes Pakistan will win ODI series

• The series is tied at 1-1 after New Zealand won the second ODI.
• Conway hit a sparkling century to help New Zealand defeat Pakistan.
• Agha Salman scored 25 before being run out in a mix-up with Azam.

PAK vs NZ: Shadab Khan, a Pakistan all-rounder, believes the Men in Green will win the ODI series decider against New Zealand on Friday in Karachi.

The one-day international series is now tied at one apiece after New Zealand won the second ODI in Karachi on Wednesday.

“I’m rooting for our team to win the series in the final ODI. “Great series down to the wire,” tweeted Shadab, who missed the series due to a finger injury.

Well played NZ. Some huge positives for Pakistan, great comeback by the bowlers especially @mnawaz94. Good fight by @babarazam258. It is 1-1. Backing and supporting our team to win the series in the final ODI. Great series going down to the wire.

— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) January 11, 2023

It should be noted that opener Devon Conway hit a sparkling century to help New Zealand defeat Pakistan by 79 runs in the second ODI.

The left-hander made 101 and captain Kane Williamson made 85 before a collapse cost New Zealand nine wickets for 78 runs, limiting them to 261 all out in 49.5 overs.

After losing wickets frequently, Pakistan was eventually dismissed for 182, ending the three-match series tied at 1-1 despite captain Babar Azam’s valiant 79.

“Even though we had a good partnership, 300 wasn’t realistic, but we ended up with a par total,” Williamson said.

“We anticipated a challenging pursuit. The two seamers set the tone for us because we were aware that we needed to remove a small amount of the surface.”

The first game was won by Pakistan by six wickets, and the third and final game will take place on Friday in Karachi.

By the fourth over, Pakistan had lost both of its openers, Fakhar Zaman (0), and Imam-ul-Haq (6). Azam and Mohammad Rizwan (28), who together added 55 for the third wicket, fell short.

While neither Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, nor Mohammad Wasim lasted very long, Agha Salman scored 25 before being run out in a mix-up with Azam.

Before being finally stumped by spinner Ish Sodhi in the 43rd over, Azam scored 114 runs on 114 balls, including eight fours and a six.

“We came back strong with the bat,” Azam said. “However, when the spinners came on, it began to turn sharply. They deserve credit.”

For New Zealand, Tim Southee took 2-33, while Sodhi took 2-38.

Earlier, Nawaz, a left-arm spinner, took four wickets to slow New Zealand after the visitors won the toss and chose to bat first.

As New Zealand slipped from a commanding position at 183-1 to 206-6, losing five wickets for 23 runs in the space of 40 deliveries, Nawaz finished with 4-38.

A second-wicket stand of 181 between Conway and Williamson lifted New Zealand before fast bowler Naseem Shah (3-58) broke the stand when he dismissed Conway off the last ball of the 30th over.

In 92 balls, Conway scored his second ODI hundred with 13 fours and a six.

Following that, Nawaz took three wickets, cheaply removing Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell in one over before clean bowling Kane Williamson in the next.

Williamson, who was dropped on 53 and 54 by Wasim, hit ten boundaries in his 100-ball innings.

As the final out for 37, Mitchell Santner, one of only three New Zealand batters to reach double figures, was struck out.

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