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'Hum nahi mante' - Fans react as Fakhar Zaman's century helps Pakistan register 5-wicket win over New Zealand in 1st ODI

Fakhar Zaman scored a magnificent century to power Pakistan's five-wicket victory against New Zealand in the first ODI in Rawalpindi.

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Rohit Kumar
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Fakhar Zaman

Fakhar Zaman (Source: Twitter)

Fakhar Zaman scored a magnificent century to power Pakistan's five-wicket victory against New Zealand in the first one-day international on Thursday in Rawalpindi. As Pakistan chased down a target of 289 in 48.3 overs, the left-hander hammered 13 boundaries and a six in his 117 runs off 114 balls. With this win, Pakistan now has a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Earlier, all-rounder Daryl Mitchell got a century, scoring 115-ball 113, and opener Will Young hit 86 to help New Zealand to a daunting total of 288-7 in 50 overs. However, Zaman carried the day for Pakistan, taking the team within 34 runs of victory before being caught off a miscued shot.

By the 22nd over, Imam-ul-Haq (60 off 65 balls) and Zaman had put on 124 runsΒ for the first wicket, effectively countering New Zealand's attack on a flat Pindi stadium surface. After Haq, who smashed five boundaries and a six in his 15th ODI fifty, was caught leg-before by spinner Ish Sodhi, a 90-run stand between Zaman and skipper Babar Azam propelled Pakistan closer to the target.

Mohammad Rizwan hits the winning runs for Pakistan

Azam fell one run short of 50 when he edged bowler Adam Milne behind the wicket to Tom Latham. Off 46 balls, he hit three fours and a six. Pakistan faltered when Shan Masood was dismissed for a dismal 12-ball one and Agha Salman was dismissed for seven, but Mohammad Rizwan ensured the opportunity was not squandered by scoring the winning boundary during his 34-ball 42 not out.

Mitchell had earlier hit his highest ODI score to power New Zealand's innings after they were put into bat. Mitchell, who hammered 11 fours and a six, shared 102 runs for the second wicket with opener Young.

The all-rounder eventually holed out to deep midwicket in the 47th over off fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, surpassing his previous record of 100 not out against Bangladesh in 2021. Young smashed eight boundaries and two sixes before being caught at long-off by spinner Shadab Khan.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Pakistan's win

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