New Zealand vs Pakistan - 1st ODI Match Review
By: Fahad Younis - March 29, 2025, 12:29 p.m.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first, suggesting the pitch offered favorable conditions for bowlers. This decision was further reflected in the exclusion of Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem, leaving Pakistan with a seam-heavy attack.
Strong Start with the Ball
Naseem Shah provided Pakistan with an ideal start, swinging the ball both ways and maintaining pinpoint accuracy. His early breakthrough of Will Young set the tone. Akif Javed, though a bit wayward initially, managed to trouble the batters with his bounce and movement. He struck a crucial blow in his second spell by dismissing a well-set Nick Kelly. Mohammad Ali bowled economically, keeping the scoring rate in check, but he lacked the ability to deliver impactful breakthroughs. I still believe Mohammad Wasim deserves a proper opportunity in place of Ali.
Agha Salman, known for his reliable fielding, dropped a challenging catch in the slips. It was difficult, but those are the moments that define a match. Despite the setback, Akif picked up his second wicket with his extra bounce proving troublesome.
New Zealand Fight Back
As the innings progressed, the Kiwis settled into the middle overs. The bowlers lost some of their initial fire, and the pitch eased up. New Zealand's batters patiently accumulated runs before finding the occasional boundary. Agha Salman had an expensive over, forcing Rizwan to try something different by bringing in Irfan Khan Niazi for a bowl. Given it was his first time bowling in ODIs or even List A cricket, he held his own reasonably well.
However, Pakistan’s inability to dismiss the set batters proved costly. Extras piled up, with several byes and leg-byes slipping past the keeper. While it’s easy to blame the bowlers, Rizwan’s struggles behind the stumps didn’t help matters. Chapman and Mitchell constructed a solid partnership, and Muhammad Abbas’s explosive fifty in the final overs pushed New Zealand to a daunting total of 344/9.
The glaring issue was Pakistan’s choice to play with only four specialist bowlers. Agha and Irfan conceded a staggering 118 runs in their collective 10 overs. A proper fifth bowler might have kept the opposition to around 280-290, which would have been far more manageable.
Pakistan’s Chase
Chasing 344 was never going to be easy. Pakistan needed a strong start, and they got just that. Abdullah Shafique and Usman Khan opened with promise. While Usman’s aggressive approach sometimes mirrored the recklessness seen from Hasan Nawaz in the T20Is, he did contribute to a positive opening stand.
The first wicket fell at 83, bringing Babar Azam to the crease. The pressure was immense, with the usual critics waiting for a failure. Despite the noise, Babar stood tall. His classy knock of 78 off 83 balls, featuring 5 fours and 3 sixes, anchored the innings. Rizwan and Agha Salman provided support, navigating the middle overs well.
At 249/4, with 96 runs needed from 68 balls, Pakistan was in a commanding position. Unfortunately, the lower middle order collapsed under pressure. Tayyab Tahir’s run-out for just 1 was a turning point, and Irfan Khan Niazi’s first-ball dismissal added to the woes. Agha tried to hold the innings together, but the lack of support from the tail made the task impossible. The last four batters collectively scored 2 runs, sealing Pakistan’s fate.
Final Thoughts
While Pakistan showed glimpses of brilliance, the management’s decision to rely on only four frontline bowlers was a critical mistake. In conditions that initially favored the bowlers, a fifth option was essential. The batting collapse in a relatively chaseable scenario further exposed the team's frailties.
The defeat leaves Pakistan with serious questions to answer. Adjustments are needed if they hope to level the series. The next match will be a true test of resilience and decision-making.
Photo credits: @TheRealPCB
Fahad Younis
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I'm not a cricket expert, nor am I a professional writer—I’m just a passionate fan of Pakistan cricket. From thrilling victories to heartbreaking losses, I follow the team through every high and low. Stumps and Dugout is my space to share thoughts, reactions, and analysis from a fan’s perspective. Whether it’s squad selections, match performances, or just the unpredictable nature of Pakistan cricket, I’m here to talk about it all.
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