NZ XI v Pak, Warm-up Review: Pakistan thrash New Zealand XI by 120 runs

Pakistan are currently in New Zealand to challenge the hosts in a five ODIs and three T20Is series starting January 6. The visitors beat the New Zealand XI in a practice game today by 120 runs to enter the main contest with confidence. NZ XI won the toss and put Pakistan into bat first.

The Men in Green put up a massive total of 342 in their share of 50 overs, on the back of sensational centuries from openers Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman who scored 104 and 106, respectively. After having a go, both of the batsmen ended their innings ‘retired out’.

In next, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed scored 36, 24 and 21, respectively. In reply, the hosts were bowled out for just 221. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan bagged four wickets and Faheem Ashraf picked two.

Azhar Ali’s grand return

Azhar, who scored a century, is back in the team after recovering from a knee injury that had ruled him out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka in October.

Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, who is also healing a knee injury, left-arm pacer Junaid Khan, who is suffering from a foot stress fracture and Usman Khan, who has a back stress fracture are all out of the series. Mohammad Nawaz, who last played an ODI in January, has replaced Imad. Pakistan are high on confidence, having recently beaten Sri Lanka 5-0 in the UAE.

Martin Guptill returns to NZ squad

As far as the Kiwis are concerned, Martin Guptill has returned to the squad for the first two ODIs after recovering from a hamstring injury and will replace George Worker in the team. Much like Pakistan, New Zealand are also in rhythm having beaten West Indies 2-0 in the three-match T20I series. They defeated the Caribbean team in all the three series’ to ascertain complete dominance

The two teams will play their first two ODIs in Wellington and Nelson respectively, before heading to Dunedin, Hamilton and Wellington for the remaining matches of the series. The ODIs will be followed by three Twenty20 Internationals.

Brief scores:

Pakistan: 341/9 (50) – Azhar Ali – 104(105), Fakhar Zaman – 105(84), Aniket Parikh – 3/74

New Zealand XI: 221/10 (47.1) – Michael Davidson – 54(81), Shadab Khan – 4/52

Pakistan won by 120 runs