Zaman’s 101 propels Pakistan to 280-9 in third ODI against New Zealand

Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan’s opener, scored a century in the series-deciding third day-night international against New Zealand on Friday in Karachi, bringing his team’s score to 280-9.

After Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat at National Stadium, the left-hander scored 101 runs off 122 balls, including 10 fours and a six.

Pakistan’s third-wicket stand of 154 off 161 balls, with Mohammad Rizwan contributing a polished 77 off 74 balls with six boundaries, helped the team recover from being 22-2 at one point.

After a tie in the first two games of the series, Pakistan lost Shan Masood without a run and skipper Babar Azam for a rare failure on four, which dealt a severe blow to their hopes of winning the series.

Azam, who had scored 50 runs in each of the first two games, was dismissed in the seventh over when he was stumped by Tom Latham off-spinner Michael Bracewell.

Zaman was put in charge of constructing the innings, and he reached his eighth hundred with a sharp single. This was also his first ODI hundred in Pakistan.

Rizwan was bowled by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, and Zaman was run out while attempting a sharp single.

In the final few overs, Agha Salman smashed a 45-run not out (off 43 balls) with a six and four fours.

Pakistan lost four wickets while scoring 49 runs in the final five overs, with Haris Sohail contributing 22.

Tim Southee, a pacer for New Zealand, took a final tally of 3-56.