‘New Zealand ne match gift me di diya’ – Fans react as Pakistan beat New Zealand in 3rd ODI by 26 runs, take unassailable 3-0 lead in the series

After the T20I series ended in a draw, Pakistan showed their dominance in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand as they have already taken an unassailable lead of 3-0 in a five-match series. After winning the first two games in Rawalpindi, Pakistan continued their winning momentum at the National Stadium as they defeated the Kiwis by 26 runs in the third ODI. Batting first, Pakistan posted a total of 287 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. In reply, New Zealand were bowled out for 261 runs in 49.1 overs.

Pakistan lost their first wicket at the score of 37 runs in 8.2 overs as the centurion of the previous two games, Fakhar Zaman got out after scoring just 19 runs off 26 balls. After that, Imam-ul-Haq and the skipper Babar Azam took the innings further by putting up a partnership of 108 runs for the second wicket. Babar got out after a well-made 54 runs off 62 balls hitting three fours and a maximum.

Imam fell short of his hundred by just 10 runs as he got out on the last ball of the 38th over after scoring 90 runs off 107 balls with seven fours and a six. After that, Mohammad Rizwan (32 off 34) and Salman Ali Agha (31 off 29) added 54 runs for the fifth wicket, while Shadab added the finishing touches to the innings by smashing 21 off 10 balls. For New Zealand, Matt Henry scalped 3 wickets, Adam Milen took 2 and Cole McConchie put 1 in his bag.

New Zealand lost momentum after a good start

Chasing the winning total, the visitors had a good start as Will Young and Tom Blundell added 83 runs for the first wicket in 15.3 overs. Young got out after scoring 33 runs off 41 balls hitting three boundaries, while Blundell scored 65 off 78 balls before getting out in the 26th over.

After that, skipper Tom Latham took charge of the innings by scoring 45 off 60 balls with three fours. After his dismissal, the Blackcaps lost momentum and started losing wickets at regular intervals. Cole McConchie was taking the innings further with his fighting knock.

He remained unbeaten on 64 off 45 balls but couldn’t take his team over the line as they fell 26 runs short of Pakistan’s total. Shaheen Afridi, Nasim Shah and Mohammad Wasim took 2-2 wickets each for Pakistan.

Here’s a look at how fans reacted to Pakistan’s win:

Babar, imam and fakhar now are the top 3 ranked batter in odi rankings
If Pakistan wins next 2 matches we'll be no 1 odi team
If Pakistan wins one match we'll be number 2
If Pakistan loses both matches we'll be no 5
Good signs before Asia cup and world cup

— Muhammad raza (@Muhammad_Raza45) May 3, 2023

The last time Pakistan won an ODI series against New Zealand this happened: pic.twitter.com/Yl0HTDxj6w

— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) May 3, 2023

Pakistan is gonna win the world cup in India as well InshaAllah. ❤

— Wali Rehman (@walirehman903) May 3, 2023

https://twitter.com/kyayaarnaman/status/1653832194761306113

https://twitter.com/Srk_Roshi/status/1653830087169433600

https://twitter.com/faddii_56/status/1653841763461738496

https://twitter.com/KalalBheemu/status/1653994175225024512

Same team lost series with NZ few months back with their senior players and they are winning against Z team of NZ

— Carry (@Carry9786) May 3, 2023