Pakistan, for much of their chase, seemed well on course to overhaul the target. Babar Azam\u2019s fluent 78 and Agha Salman\u2019s explosive fifty put them in pole position, but a dramatic collapse saw them lose seven wickets for just 22 runs, tumbling from 249 for 3 to 271 all out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The early signs had been promising for Pakistan when Captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and opted to field. Naseem Shah and Akif Javed made full use of a lively pitch, reducing New Zealand to 64 for 3. Will Young nicked off early, debutant Nick Kelly struggled before falling to Akif, and Henry Nicholls endured a torrid time before mistiming a hook. But Pakistan\u2019s four-bowler strategy backfired as Chapman and Mitchell forged a match-defining 199-run stand, capitalizing on part-time spin from Salman Agha.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chapman was at his imperious best, dismantling Pakistan\u2019s bowling with elegant stroke play. Once he had set the foundation, debutant Abbas provided the perfect finishing touch, smashing the fastest ODI fifty by a debutant off just 24 balls. His breathtaking assault on Shaheen Afridi at the death powered New Zealand to a daunting total.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan\u2019s reply was initially scratchy, with Usman Khan and Abdullah Shafique struggling. However, they stabilized through Babar and Rizwan\u2019s 76-run stand before Abbas dismissed Rizwan. Agha then joined Babar, and their partnership appeared to have sealed the deal for Pakistan. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The pair plundered runs at will, bringing the asking rate down to a manageable eight per over. Babar\u2019s majestic pull shot off Nathan Smith for six was a statement of intent, but just as Pakistan eyed victory, disaster struck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Babar, looking set for a century, mistimed a pull off Will O\u2019Rourke, with Mitchell taking a stunning catch inches from the boundary rope. From that moment, Pakistan unraveled. A clumsy run-out, a golden duck for Irfan Niazi, and a procession of tail-enders followed, as Smith and Jacob Duffy ran riot. Agha, who had fought valiantly, finally holed out, leaving the last pair in the middle. When Akif Javed\u2019s final desperate heave found O\u2019Rourke, Pakistan\u2019s hopes were extinguished.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For most of the chase, Pakistan had been ahead of the game, seemingly cruising towards victory. But in the blink of an eye, they had crashed spectacularly, leaving New Zealand jubilant and Pakistan shell-shocked. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Babar, looking set for a century, mistimed a pull off Will O\u2019Rourke, with Mitchell taking a stunning catch inches from the boundary rope. From that moment, Pakistan unraveled. A clumsy run-out, a golden duck for Irfan Niazi, and a procession of tail-enders followed, as Smith and Jacob Duffy ran riot. Agha, who had fought valiantly, finally holed out, leaving the last pair in the middle. When Akif Javed\u2019s final desperate heave found O\u2019Rourke, Pakistan\u2019s hopes were extinguished.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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