Pakistan’s batting woes continued against New Zealand in the second ODI. Chasing 293, they lost three wickets for just 9 runs. Babar Azam fell for 1, caught by Henry Nicholls off Jacob Duffy.
The opening pair, Abdullah Shafique and Imam ul Haq, started slowly. Shafique was out for 1 in the third over, caught by Will Orourke. Babar Azam, batting at three, didn’t last long either. He edged Duffy to Nicholls at second slip.
Duffy struck again in the sixth over, dismissing Imam ul Haq for 3. Pakistan were 9/3, and their chase was in trouble.
Collapsing Middle Order
The slide continued as Agha Salman fell to Ben Sears for 9. Captain Mohammad Rizwan didn’t fare much better, making just 5 off 27 balls before becoming Sears’ second victim.
Earlier, New Zealand’s innings had a similar story. They lost 5 wickets for 132 runs before a late surge from Muhammad Abbas and Daryl Mitchell took them to 292. Abbas made 41 off 66 balls, while Mitchell remained unbeaten on 99, just one short of a century.
Mitchell’s knock included 7 sixes and as many fours, helping his team post a competitive total. Abbas provided crucial support, ensuring their team didn’t collapse completely.
Jacob Duffy’s extra bounce undoes Babar Azam, who edges to Nicholls at second slip. Two wickets in four balls rock Pakistan early in their chase of 293 pic.twitter.com/VYf5QVn7m1
— Dinesh Verma (@DineshVerm1047) April 2, 2025
This collapse will be a major concern for Pakistan as they look to bounce back in the series. Their batsmen need to step up and support their bowlers, who have been doing a decent job so far.