‘Man only deals in hundreds’ – Fans react as Fakhar Zaman’s 180 helps Pakistan take 2-0 lead against New Zealand

Pakistan batter, Fakhar Zaman scored his second consecutive hundred in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, helping Pakistan defeat New Zealand by 7 wickets in the second ODI at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi to take a lead 2-0 in a five-match ODI series.

After winning the toss, Pakistani skipper Babar Azam asked the visitors to bat first. Batting first, New Zealand posted a total of 336 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. In reply, Pakistan chased the winning total of 337 runs in 48.2 overs losing 3 wickets.

The Blackcaps lost their first wicket at the score of 33 runs in 5.4 overs after Will Young ended up giving the catch to the wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan on the delivery of Haris Rauf. After that, Chad Bowes, and Daryl Mitchell added 86 runs for the second wicket. Bowes got out after scoring a run-a-ball 51 runs with seven boundaries, while Mitchell went on to score his second consecutive century of the season.

Mitchell also put up a partnership of 183 runs with the skipper Tom Latham. The 31-year-old got out after scoring 129 runs off 119 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes. Latham fell short of just two runs from his hundred as he got out after scoring 98 runs off 85 balls, with eight fours and a maximum. James Neesham remained unbeaten on 17 off 15, helping New Zealand cross 330-run mark.

Big partnerships helped Pakistan to chase the target

Chasing the winning total, Pakistan got a fine start as Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq added 66 runs for the first wicket in 9.4 overs. Imam got out after scoring 24 off 26 balls with three boundaries. After that, Fakhar put up a partnership of 135 runs with Babar Azam for the second wicket. Babar got out after scoring 65 runs off 66 balls hitting five fours and a maximum.

After that, Fakhar put up another unbeaten partnership of 119 runs with Mohammad Rizwan for the fourth wicket. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 54 runs off 41 ball hitting six boundaries, while Fakhar finished on 180 runs off 144 balls scoring 17 fours and six sixes. Pakistan chased the winning total with 10 balls to spare.

Here’s a look at fans reacted to Fakhar Zaman’s knock:

Babar azam ✨ Fakhar Zaman 😍 pic.twitter.com/7KhR7czSSt

— Priya/BA/56* (@MuthalaliS) April 30, 2023

https://twitter.com/UsamaULAsad/status/1652534225013284865

https://twitter.com/Ziddi_bOy_/status/1652534835062120448

ODI openers with 3000+ runs, 45+ average, 90+ strike rate:

Rohit Sharma 🇮🇳
David Warner 🇦🇺
Quinton de Kock 🇿🇦
Shane Watson 🇦🇺
Fakhar Zaman 🇵🇰#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/VlvmoefPmJ

— Muhammad Najeeb (@Muhamma47040561) April 30, 2023

https://twitter.com/Rnawaz31888/status/1652537220438556673

https://twitter.com/itweeetyyy__/status/1652537251870507008

The great power of thin man…. Fakhar zaman… Fakhar ae Pakistan love him

— Saqib Shaheen (@SaqibShaheen13) April 30, 2023

https://twitter.com/Adilaa202/status/1652538690185359361

Alhamdulillah#FakharZaman #NaseemShah #BabarAzam #PCB https://t.co/Mv8IRNRPGF

— Babar Azam (@babarazam93249) April 30, 2023

@FakharZamanLive ur beauty #FakharZaman pic.twitter.com/MLJmWGLcQU

— Ali Raza (@AliRazakito) April 30, 2023