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KARACHI, Pakistan – In today’s first ODI at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan’s fast bowler Naseem Shah (5 to 57), Fakhar Zaman (56), Babar Azam (66), and Mohammad Rizwan (77*) secured a comfortable 6 wicket victory over New Zealand.

On Monday, fast bowler Naseem Shah grabbed five wickets in the first one-day international between Pakistan and New Zealand, which Pakistan won by a score of six wickets.

When New Zealand was asked to bat at the National Stadium, they managed 255 to 9 in their 50 overs thanks in large part to the 19-year 5 to 57, old’s his second five-wicket haul in as many ODI appearances.

Pakistan then sailed to victory with 11 balls remaining thanks to Mohammad Rizwan (77 unbeaten), captain Babar Azam (66), and Fakhar Zaman (56).

In the three-match series, the home team has the advantage 1 to 0.

On Wednesday and Friday, also in Karachi, are the remaining matches.

Following Imam-ul-(11) Haq’s dismissal in the sixth over, Azam and Zaman added 78 runs for the second wicket.

In his 74-ball innings, Zaman hit seven boundaries before being removed by Michael Bracewell. Azam, on the other hand, faced 82 balls before Glenn Phillips stumped him. 

The top bowler for New Zealand was the off-spinner Bracewell, who finished with 2 to 44. Naseem’s furious bowling earlier on had New Zealand under control. Rizwan scored 64 with Haris Sohail after scoring 60 with Azam. Sohail hit a quick-fire 32. 

Devon Conway was out for nothing in the first over of the match, giving Pakistan the early advantage.

Naseem made a second appearance to account for Phillips (37), Bracewell (43) and Henry Shipley (nought).

Mitchell Santner was dismissed for 21 in the penultimate over by Naseem, who earlier in the year had taken five wickets in an ODI match against the Netherlands.

While Phillips and Bracewell added 66 runs off 59 balls for the sixth wicket, stabilizing the innings during a fourth wicket stand of 56, Tom Latham (42) and Daryl Mitchell (36) added 36 for the fifth wicket, and Naseem removed both batsmen in consecutive overs to end the innings.

Usama Mir, a rookie leg-spinner who finished with 2 to 42, bowled skipper Kane Williamson for a stunning dismissal after he had reached 26 runs.

In his 53-ball innings, Phillips smacked a six and a four, and Bracewell blasted four boundaries and a six.

In his 27-ball 29. Match Stats, opening pitcher Finn Allen hammered six goals.

Fall of wickets for New Zealand: 1 to 1 (Devon Conway – 0.6 ov), 2 to 37 (Finn Allen – 7.3 ov), 3 to 69 (Kane Williamson – 14.2 ov), 4 to 125 (Daryl Mitchell – 26.5 ov), 5 to 147 (Tom Latham – 31.3 ov), 6 to 213 (Glenn Phillips – 43.6 ov), 7 to 220 (Michael Bra (Mitchell Santner – 49.3 ov)

Imam ul Haq’s wicket fell for 30 runs, Fakhar Zaman for 108, Babar Azam’s for 168, and others fell for 36.3 and 46.3 overs, respectively, for Pakistan (Haris Sohail – 44.6 ov)

Playing XIs.

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Haris Sohail, Naseem Shah, Agha Salman, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim.

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (C), Tom Latham (WK), Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Henry Shipley, Tim Southee.