Dominant New Zealand crush Pakistan in ODI series opener: Stats  (2025)

By Gaurav Tripathi

Game plan

Pakistan's decision to bowl first after winning the toss looked like a smart move at first.

The seam bowlers found life in the pitch as NZ were reduced to 50/3.

However, Chapman and Mitchell steadied the ship with a vital partnership of 199 runs.

Abbas's late blitz meant New Zealand recorded their second-highest total at home against Pakistan, with 344/9.

Match reversal

Pakistan's response to New Zealand's 344 runs began on a positive note with Babar Azam and Salman Agha scoring fifties.

But their innings took a drastic turn as they collapsed from a strong position of 249/3, to an all-out score of mere 271 runs.

New Zealand's bowlers turned the game around in the final stages, clinching a victory that wasn't as easy as the final score suggested.

As mentioned, Smith took four wickets.

Record debut

Making his ODI debut for New Zealand, Muhammad Abbas stole the show. He displayed his prowess by hitting three fours and as many sixes en route to his 26-ball 52.

He took just 24 balls to reach this milestone, which is the fastest half-century on debut in ODI history, as per ESPNcricinfo.

Playing his 16th List A match, he has raced to 506 runs at 34-plus. This was his sixth half-century (100: 1).

Partnership

Having added 199 runs for the fourth wicket, Chapman and Mitchell recorded the highest partnership for New Zealand against Pakistan in ODI cricket.

They broke the previous record of New Zealand's Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle, who had a partnership of 193 runs in 2001.

Meanwhile, Chapman's 132 is now the highest ODI score by a Kiwi batter against Pakistan.

Chapman

Chapman scored 13 fours and six maximums en route to his 111-ball 132, his career-best ODI score.

This was the batter's maiden 50-plus score against Pakistan in ODIs, having raced to 289 runs against them at 41.28.

The southpaw has overall completed 868 ODI runs at 39.45, as per ESPNcricinfo.

His tally includes three tons and as many fifties. While 717 of his ODI runs have come in NZ colors, his remaining 151 came for Hong Kong.

Mitchell

Mitchell made 76 runs from 84 balls with the help of four fours and as many sixes.

Playing his 50th ODI, the senior Kiwi batter has raced to 1,980 runs at an average of 49.5.

His tally includes six tons and nine half-centuries. 622 of his runs have come against Pakistan at 51.83 (100s: 2, 50s: 3).

This was his second 50-plus score at home (ODIs).

Smith

Smith, who claimed 4/60 in 8.1 overs, recorded his best ODI figures.

He has now raced to 11 wickets from nine games as his economy of 7.03 is on the higher side.

Six of his scalps have come in three outings against Pakistan. Notably, this was also his maiden four-fer in the List A format.

Babar

With this performance of 78 off 83 balls, Babar became the third-highest run-scorer for Pakistan against New Zealand in ODIs.

He has now raced to 1,087 against the Black Caps at 49.40 (100s: 2, 50s: 10).

The batter has overall raced to 6,184 ODI runs, having smoked his 36th fifty (19 tons).

Across 129 matches, he has an average of 55.71 and a strike rate of 87.99.

Agha

Pakistan were 164/3 when Babar was joined by Salman Agha.

The latter made a quickfire 58 off 48 balls, including five fours and two sixes.

Notably, he also managed an 85-run partnership with Babar for the fourth wicket.

He was dismissed in the 44th over by Jacob Duffy.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Agha completed 1,00 ODI runs (now 1,034) at 44.95 across just 29 innings, including one ton and six fifties.