In the warm-up match of the 2023 World Cup, New Zealand defeated Pakistanby five wickets at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.Captain Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bat in the match. However,Pakistan’s innings didn’t start well and Pakistan top order once again gavea disappointing start.
Opener Imam-ul-Haq managed to score only one run off ten balls, andAbdullah Shafique was dismissed after scoring 14 runs.
Captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan thenestablished a strong partnership of 144 runs, stabilizing the team’s score.Captain Babar contributed 80 runs before being dismissed. Later,wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel took the charge and formed apartnership of 159 runs. Saud Shakeel contributed 75 runs before gettingout, and Mohammad Rizwan, showcasing excellent batting, completed hiscentury with 94 runs off 98 balls.
Afterward, Shadab Khan added 16 runs to the total, and Pakistan finishedtheir innings with a score of 338 runs for the loss of five wickets in theallotted fifty overs. Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 103 runs, stood out as aprominent batsman, while Babar Azam contributed 80 runs, and Saud Shakeelscored 75 runs.
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From New Zealand’s side, Mitchell Santner took 2 wickets, while Matt Henry,James Neesham, and Lockie Ferguson each claimed one wicket. This victoryprovided New Zealand with valuable practice ahead of the World Cuptournament, showcasing their prowess in the warm-up match against Pakistan.
