After dominating in the home T20I series, New Zealand claimed a big win in the three-match home ODI series opener against Pakistan last Saturday. Napier hosted the first game of the ODI series, where New Zealand won by 73 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
After Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan chose to field first, the hosts were once struggling at 50/3. However, Mark Chapman’s 132 off 111 balls (13 fours and six sixes), Daryl Mitchell’s 76 off 84 balls (four fours and four sixes), and Muhammad Abbas’ 52 off 26 balls (three fours and three sixes) helped New Zealand to manage the big first innings total of 344/9 in 50 overs.
In reply, Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Usman Khan had an 83-run partnership for the first wicket, as Shafique scored 36 and Khan scored 39 runs. While the skipper Rizwan scored 30 runs, Babar Azam and Salman Agha scored 50+ runs, but those weren’t enough, as there was no late support that forced the visitors to collapse the innings to 271 all out in 44.1 overs. While Babar scored 78 off 83 balls (five fours and three sixes), Salman scored 58 off 48 balls (five fours and two sixes).
Among the Blackcaps bowlers, Nathan Smith bagged four wickets as he had the bowling figures of 8.1-0-60-4.
During New Zealand's innings, the debutant Muhammad Abbas slammed a 24-ball half-century. With that knock, Abbas recorded the fastest half-century by an ODI debutant which was previously held by Indian cricketer Krunal Pandya and Caribbean cricketer Alick Athanaze, as both recorded it in 26 balls.
Fastest 50s by ODI debutants
Player (Team) | Number of balls | Opposition | Year |
Muhammad Abbas (New Zealand) | 24 | Pakistan | 2025 |
Krunal Pandya (India) | 26 | England | 2021 |
Alick Athanaze (West Indies) | 26 | United Arab Emirates | 2023 |
Ishan Kishan (India) | 33 | Sri Lanka | 2021 |
Here are also some more key stats from the match, which we can’t avoid
Mark Chapman recorded the highest ODI score by a New Zealander against Pakistan
New Zealand cricketer Mark Chapman scored 132 runs. It was the highest individual ODI score by a New Zealand cricketer against Pakistan. The previous record was 131 not out by Ross Taylor at Pallekele in 2011 (also Brendon McCullum scored 131 in the 2009 Abu Dhabi ODI).
New Zealand recorded 3rd ODI total against Pakistan
New Zealand scored 344/9 in 50 overs. It was the third-highest ODI total for New Zealand against Pakistan. Their top two records in this list are 401/6 (at Bengaluru in 2023) and 369/5 (at Napier in 2015).
