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New Zealand pulled off a commanding victory against Pakistan to secure a 1-0 lead in the series

🏏 Chapman and Abbas Star as New Zealand Secure 73-Run Victory Against Pakistan
Mark Chapman continued his remarkable run against Pakistan, producing a career-best 132 off 111 balls to lead New Zealand to a convincing 73-run win in Napier. The victory was set up by a massive 199-run fourth-wicket partnership between Chapman and Daryl Mitchell (76), followed by a blistering cameo from debutant Muhammad Abbas, who smashed the fastest ODI debut fifty (24 balls) to power New Zealand to 344.
🌟 Key Performances:
Mark Chapman:
Scored 132 off 111 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes.
Anchored the innings after early wickets and accelerated during the middle overs.
Put on a 199-run partnership with Mitchell to rescue the innings.
Daryl Mitchell:
Gritty 76 off 85 balls, providing stability while Chapman attacked.
Played second fiddle initially before accelerating in the later stages.
Muhammad Abbas:
Smoked a record-breaking 50 off 24 balls on debut, the fastest ODI debut fifty.
Took down Pakistan's premier bowlers at the death, including a massive six off Naseem Shah.
đź“ť Match Summary:
New Zealand Innings: 344/7 (50 overs)
Top Scorers: Mark Chapman (132), Daryl Mitchell (76), Muhammad Abbas (50*)
Key Partnerships:
Chapman and Mitchell (199 runs)
Mitchell and Abbas (quick-fire stand in the final overs)
Death Overs: 166 runs in the final 15 overs
Pakistan Innings: 271 all out (46.4 overs)
Top Scorers: Babar Azam (68), Salman Agha (54), Mohammad Rizwan (47)
Key Wickets: Henry Nicholls (3/42), Josh Hazlewood (2/45), Ish Sodhi (2/50)
đź’¬ Post-Match Reactions:
Mark Chapman (Player of the Match):
"It feels great to contribute to a win like this. Credit to Mitchell for sticking around, and Abbas for finishing brilliantly. It was about soaking up the pressure early and then cashing in."
Muhammad Abbas (on debut):
"I just wanted to express myself and play freely. The crowd was amazing, and it’s a dream to score a fifty on debut. Hopefully, there’s more to come."
Babar Azam (Pakistan Captain):
"We had them under control early, but credit to Chapman and Mitchell for fighting back. Our batting just didn’t finish the job. We need to be more consistent under pressure."
🔥 Turning Points:
Chapman-Mitchell Partnership: Turned the game around after a shaky start.
Abbas' Late Onslaught: Pushed the total well beyond Pakistan’s reach.
Pakistan’s Middle-Order Collapse: Lost 7 wickets for 22 runs, turning a promising chase into a disaster.