Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI at Rawalpindi, PAK v NZ, Apr 29 2023 - Match Result

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Babar Azam: "As a captain, I am satisfied as everyone is stepping up and responding. The main thing is to read the situation and keep the run rate in check. Fakhar built the innings well and we were trying to maintain seven an over. I think it was Fakhar's best innings and the way he played astonished me. You can say, we conceded 20 to 30 extra runs but after the first innings we had a discussion and told each other that we have chased down similar totals in the past and we can do it again so it's all about self-belief."

Tom Latham: Daryl played a fantastic innings. Halfway mark we were pretty happy. Credit to Fakhar, he played an outstanding knock. They were able to build partnership after partnership. Big tick in the batting department. Have done that well in the last couple of games. Wickets here tend to be flat...we have to create more chances in the middle phases.

Fakhar Zaman, Player of the Match: "I try to take my time in the start in ODI cricket, and then with five players in the circle it becomes easier to score. Practice is usually done on technique and I work on my shortcomings as well but to be honest, I think it was my lucky day to score again against New Zealand. I get a lot of liberty while playing with Rizwan and he made things easier for me. I was told to stay at the crease till the end and this approach is what is working in our team's favour"

So once again Fakhar Zaman made things look ridiculously easy and turned on beast mode, scoring fluently and didn't look flustered at any stage of the chase. Pakistan have played bold cricket and deserved to win tonight. New Zealand's bowling attack just couldn't make any inroads. Perhaps a quick succession of wickets could have made things difficult for Pakistan but they couldn't crack the code to get through Fakhar's defence yet again and despite getting a par-score, they end up on the losing side.

Salman: "Seriously, I was about to go to bed and saw that my dad was watching television and fakhar was in his 90's. Now my dad is asleep now and I am still watching.. RIP my sleep"

Muhammad Ali: "there was a time when Pakistan can't find openers for years and now Pakistan is chasing 337 with 5 openers."

Shahid: "Sadly none of the youngesters has yet done justice to the promised talent. Abdullah and Saim are far from finished products. A bit disappointed on Abdullah as he has been with team for 3 years now. I would love to see Saud Shakeel in the ODI team.

Waqas : "Iftikhar Ahmed can solve problem of middle order and he also does bowl. He must be part of ODI also but permanently "

Sajeel: "Rizwans innings in both ODIs going unnoticed. He singlehandedly solved Pakistans middle order woes (for now) which is a great sign ahead of the world cup"

Shine_Stine: "Only thing remaining in this Fakhar's innings is to take off his helmet and scream "Are you not entertained" like Maximus of Gladiator."

Saqib: "Right now at Pindi Stadium. Magical atmosphere with a Fakhar special in a high run chase... Life's great "

Ghaffar: "Rizwan last 6 ODIs innings 42*, 77, 28, 77*, 69*

& now 37* Great signs for Pakistan ahead of World Cup as Master T20 batter now start finding his mojo in ODis"