Chapman’s heroics guide New Zealand to ODI series lead against Pakistan

Tuesday, 1 April 2025 01:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

It was a Mark Chapman show in Napier as the Kiwi scored an unbeaten 132 (111), setting the base for New Zealand’s victory by 73 runs in the first ODI against Pakistan.

The century was the third of Chapman’s ODI career and his highest score in the format so far.

Pakistan ODI skipper Mohammed Rizwan won the toss and elected to field first, which seemed like a success at first.

The Napier pitch was proving friendly to the bowlers as the New Zealand top-order fell apart to the pace of Naseem Shah and Akif Javed. Openers Will Young and Nick Kelly perished inside the powerplay, as did Henry Nicholls soon after.

At 50/3, it was Mark Chapman and Darryl Mitchell who came to New Zealand’s rescue with an incredible stand of 199 runs.

Mark Chapman was the aggressor, as he smashed 13 fours and 6 sixes in his innings of 132 at a strike rate of 118.91, with Darry Mitchell playing a solid second fiddle with a calm 76 off 84 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes).

Debutant Muhammad Abbas finished with a flurry, with a quickfire 26-ball 52 to take New Zealand to 344/9 in their 50 overs.In the second innings, the Pakistan openers made a good start with a stand of 83, when Nathan Smith dispatched the dangerous Usman Khan for 39.

Abdullah Shafique (36) followed his opening partner soon after when stand-in New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell struck in his first over.

Former Pakistan Captain Babar Azam (78) and T20I skipper Salman Agha (58) were in fine touch as they guided Pakistan to 249/4, while skipper Mohammed Rizwan (30) too chipped in with handy runs.

However, it proved to be an innings of two halves for Pakistan as they went on to lose three quick wickets to go from 249/3 in the 39th over to 253/6 in the 40th over.

This minor collapse gave New Zealand an opening as Nathan Smith ran through the Pakistan lower-order and bowled them out for 271 in the 45th over.

Smith was the pick of the bowlers as he registered career best figures of 4/60 while Jacob Duffy scalped two.

New Zealand go into the second ODI in Hamilton on 2 April against Pakistan with a chance to seal the series.

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