NAPIER: Mark Chapman struck a sublime century and Nathan Smith claimed four wickets as New Zealand eased to a 73-run win over Pakistan in the first One-day International on Saturday.

Chapman’s career-best 132 formed the foundation of an imposing 344-9 at McLean Park before Pakistan’s promising chase capitulated, to be all out for 271 in the 45th over.

The tourists looked on track at 249-3, at that point needing 96 runs to win, with more than 11 overs remaining. However, seamer Smith (4-60) helped to spark a late collapse, with the last seven wickets falling for 22 runs.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan lamented a lack of contribution from his lower order, with the bottom six batsmen scoring just three runs between them.

“We started the innings with good intent and we got the things you need for a big chase,” Rizwan said. “Obviously, at the end, the pressure increases because you’re getting nearer to the end. We lost wickets and it changed the momentum.”

Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan with 78 off 83 balls, but it was his dismissal that started the rot. Salman Ali Agha struck a defiant 58 off 48, but he was let down by a series of loose shots from lower order team-mates as New Zealand moved one-up in the three-match series.

Pakistan won the toss, bowled and were on top early through the efforts of their four seam bowlers, Naseem Shah, Akif Javed, Mohammad Ali and Haris Rauf. Akif and Ali were making their ODI debuts.

There were patches of grass on the pitch at McLean Park and the ball moved more than is usual at the venue where the average first-innings score in ODIs is 244.

New Zealand slumped to 34-3 in the 13th over, struggling against bounce and swing from the Pakistan fast bowlers, but Chapman — who posted his third one-day international century — and Daryl Mitchell rebuilt the innings with a 199-run partnership.

Runs were hard to come by at first but after bowling his seamers through the first 25 overs, Rizwan was forced to go to his fifth bowler. The New Zealanders cashed in.

Chapman and Mitchell took 67 runs from the five overs bowled by Salman and 51 runs from five overs bowled by Irfan Khan.

Irfan had his revenge dismissing both Chapman and Mitchell. Chapman’s 111-ball innings featured 13 fours and four sixes while Mitchell’s 76 came off 84 deliveries.

The home side’s innings was then finished off in record-breaking fashion by debut all-rounder Mohammad Abbas. Pakistan-born Abbas struck 52, setting a world record for the fastest half-century on debut when he reached 50 off the 24th ball he faced.

Player of the match Chapman said he and Mitchell needed to apply themselves in the early stages.

“It was certainly pretty tricky early on, the ball was moving a lot. We were probably aiming for a total a little bit lower than what we got in the end,” he said.

“But it’s something we pride ourselves on, being able to adapt to the conditions and then stay in the game and just keep scrapping. We rode our luck at times and then Mo [Abbas] put the icing on the cake. It was outstanding to see.”

ELECTRIC DEBUT

Abbas — whose cheering section included father Azhar, a former first-class player for Auckland and Wellington — said he was given a licence to attack by coach Gary Stead.

“I can’t describe the feeling,” Abbas said. “I was out there in the middle and I could hear the crowd clapping and all I could think about was all the hours of flicking my dad’s done and the imaginary sounds I used to think of.

“Today was that and I’m out of words. It’s just special to contribute and Chappy [Chapman] was unbelievable. To get in there and show what I can do as well was special to me and my family. They are sitting in the crowd. I’m sure they’ll be pretty happy – maybe a couple of tears.”

For much of their innings Pakistan were ahead of New Zealand, 64-0 after 10 overs where New Zealand had been 34-2.

Usman Khan and Abdullah Shafique put on 83 for the first wicket, Babar and Rizwan added 76 for the third wicket then Babar and Salman contributed a further 85 for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan were well on target and New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell was forced to bring back his strike bowlers Will O’Rourke and Jacob Duffy. O’Rourke offered a short ball to Babar which he hooked to Mitchell on the boundary at backward square.

Duffy then ran out Tayyab Tahir (1) and bowled Irfan first ball as Pakistan slumped to 253-6 in the 40th over. Pakistan’s hopes faded as wickets dwindled and the run-rate rose.

The second match of the series is in Hamilton on Wednesday.

Chapman is in doubt after injuring his hamstring in the field and exiting the game.

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND:

W. Young c Salman b Naseem1

N. Kelly b Akif15

H. Nicholls c Babar b Akif11

M. Chapman c Tayyab b Irfan132

D. Mitchell c Rizwan b Irfan76

M. Abbas c Babar b Ali52

M. Bracewell c Rizwan b Haris9

M. Hay c Rizwan b Haris0

N. Smith c (sub) b Irfan2

J. Duffy not out3

EXTRAS (B-7, LB-13, NB-2, W-21)43

TOTAL (for nine wickets, 50 overs)344

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-8 (Young), 2-33 (Kelly), 3-50 (Nicholls),4-249 (Mitchell), 5-280 (Chapman), 6-299 (Bracewell), 7-299 (Hay), 8-306 (Smith), 9-344 (Abbas)

DID NOT BAT: Will O’Rourke

BOWLING: Naseem 10-1-60-1 (1w); Akif 10-1-55-2 (3w, 1nb); Ali 10-0-53-1 (5w); Haris 10-1-38-2 (3w); Salman 5-0-67-0 (1w, 1nb); Irfan 5-0-51-3 (4w)

PAKISTAN:

Abdullah Shafique c Mitchell b Bracewell36

Usman Khan c Duffy b Smith39

Babar Azam c Mitchell b O’Rourke78

Mohammad Rizwan c Hay b Abbas30

Salman Ali Agha c Bracewell b Duffy58

Tayyab Tahir run out (Duffy)1

Irfan Niazi b Duffy0

Naseem Shah c Bracewell b Smith0

Haros Rauf c Nicholls b Smith1

Akif Javed c O’Rourke b Smith1

Mohammad Ali not out0

EXTRAS (B-8, LB-5, W-14)27

TOTAL (all out, 44.1 overs)271

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-83 (Usman), 2-88 (Abdullah), 3-164 (Rizwan), 4-249 (Babar), 5-253 (Tayyab), 6-253 (Irfan), 7-267 (Naseem), 8-269 (Haris), 9-271 (Salman), 10-271 (Akif)

BOWLING: O’Rourke 10-1-38-1 (4w); Duffy 9-0-57-2 (2w); Smith 8.1-0-60-4 (1w); Bracewell 10-0-60-1 (5w); Abbas 7-0-43-1 (1w)

RESULT: New Zealand won by 73 runs

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Mark Chapman

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2025