Napier: New Zealand clinched a decisive 73-run victory against Pakistan in the inaugural ODI of the series, held at McLean Park, Napier, on March 29, 2025.
In pursuit of a challenging target of 345 runs, Pakistan was dismissed for 271 runs in 44.1 overs, falling short of the required run rate. Despite a valiant effort from Agha Salman, who scored 58 runs off 48 balls, the middle and lower order collapsed under pressure.
Nathan Smith emerged as the standout performer for New Zealand, claiming four wickets for 60 runs in 8.1 overs, including the crucial dismissal of Akif Javed for the final wicket. Jacob Duffy also played a significant role, securing two wickets for 57 runs in his spell.
Earlier in the match, New Zealand set a formidable target by posting 344/9, paving the way for a high-scoring encounter. Pakistan’s innings began steadily, but frequent wicket losses derailed their chase. The final five overs proved disastrous for Pakistan, as they lost six wickets while managing only 21 runs.
With this victory, New Zealand takes a 1-0 lead in the ODI series. The second ODI is scheduled to take place in a few days, where Pakistan will aim to rebound and level the series.
