‘Ankhen taras gayi thi dekhne ke liye’ – Fans applaud Fakhar Zaman as he completes splendid century against New Zealand

Pakistan locked horns against New Zealand in the third and final ODI of the series, which is a series decider, in the National Stadium, Karachi on Friday, January 13. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Men in Green lost their first wicket early on the score of two runs in the second over of the innings.

Shan Masood was not able to open his account. He departed on his second ball of the innings. Skipper Babar Azam was recently criticized by former Pakistan seamer Shoaib Akhtar for his slow knock in the last ODI. And this time around, he was able to score only 4 runs in 13 balls before giving his wicket away to Michael Bracewell in the seventh over of the innings.

After Babar’s departure, Zaman along with wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan built up a partnership of 154 runs for the third wicket. Before going back to the pavilion, Rizwan scored 77 runs off 74 balls at a strike rate of just over 104 with six boundaries. When the 30-year-old get dismissed the team score was 175 runs in the 34th over.

New Zealand need 281 runs to clinch the ODI series

The Mardan-born cricketer scored his eighth century in the third ODI on his comeback innings. He scored 101 runs off 122 balls with 10 fours and a six. He got dismissed in the 37th over of the. He was sent back to the dressing room by a run out which was done by Henry Nicholls who came on the field as a substitute fielder.

The hosts finished their innings at 280 runs for nine wickets after the completion of their 50 overs of batting. Pakistan all-rounder Agha Salman also played a crucial knock of 45 runs in 43 balls at a strike rate of over 104 which included 4 fours and a six. The speedster Mohammad Hasnain slammed a straight down-the-ground four on the last ball of the innings against the Kolkata franchise pacer Lockie Ferguson.

For the Blacaps, the star performer with the ball was Test skipper Tim Southee with three wickets. Two wickets came to Ferguson and one wicket each to spinners Bracewell and Ish Sodhi. If Kiwis have to clinch the ODI series, then the visitors have to chase down a target of 281 runs.

Here’s how fans applauded the Pakistan opener on social media: