New Zealand Beats Pakistan by 84 Runs to Win Series
In a commanding performance in Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 84 runs in the second One Day International (ODI) on April 2, 2025, and won the three-match series 2-0 with an unassailable lead. The victory is the follow-up to their earlier 73-run win in Napier, which indicates the Black Caps' dominance in the series.
Mitchell Hay's Explosive Knock Powers New Zealand
At the center of New Zealand's victory was wicket-keeper batsman Mitchell Hay, who played a career-best unbeaten 99 from 78 deliveries. Coming in at the crease with New Zealand in danger at 132-5 in the 27th over, Hay's forceful batting anchored the innings.
His knock consisted of seven fours and seven sixes, with a particularly devastating final over in which he made 22 runs off Mohammad Wasim. Not only did this innings rescue New Zealand from a mid-innings lull, but it left Pakistan with a hard target to pursue.
New Zealand's Innings: A Strong Start and Late Flourish
New Zealand openers Nick Kelly and debutant Rhys Mariu established a good 54-run partnership after winning the toss and deciding to bat first. Kelly scored his 31 runs at a fast pace with four boundaries and two sixes, while Mariu scored 18 runs before both were dismissed in quick succession.
The middle order too faltered against Pakistan's bowlers, and Henry Nicholls (22) and Daryl Mitchell (18) failed to capitalize. Nevertheless, Hay's late blitz, with some help from Muhammad Abbas's 41, brought New Zealand to a competitve total of 292-8.
Full match report on ESPN Cricinfo
Pakistan's Bowling Performance: Missed Opportunities
Pakistan's bowlers had moments of efficiency, particularly Sufyan Moqim, who was stingy with figures of 2-33.
- Mohammad Wasim (2-78) didn't perform in his appearance, conceding freely in the death overs.
- Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf collected one wicket each, but being unable to rein Hay back in the death overs were costly.
Pakistan Batting Collapse: Early Wickets to Be Costly
Having a target of 293 to chase, the Pakistan innings did not get off on a good note:
- Will O'Rourke dismissed Abdullah Shafique (1) in the third over.
- Jacob Duffy dismissed Babar Azam (1) and Imam-ul-Haq, and Pakistan were struggling at 9-3 in the sixth over.
This early meltdown resonated with New Zealand's strong base and put the middle and lower order under rigorous pressure.
Al Jazeera: Pakistan's struggle in Hamilton
Lower Order Resilience Not Enough for Pakistan
Even despite top-order meltdown, Pakistan's lower order held on well:
- Faheem Ashraf played a good inning with 73 runs off 80 balls..
- Naseem Shah scored a brisk 51 off 44 balls.
Their efforts added respectability to the score but were not sufficient to challenge New Zealand's dominance.
Detailed scorecard on ESPN Cricinfo
Ben Sears' Five-Wicket Haul Seals New Zealand's Win
Pace bowler Ben Sears was pivotal in dismantling Pakistan's batting unit, taking his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs for 5-59. His spell saw Pakistan bowled out for 208 in the 42nd over, cementing New Zealand's clinical win.
Ben Sears shines in Hamilton – ESPN Cricinfo
Series Context: What This Means for Both Teams
This series win follows a successful home summer for New Zealand, having already beaten Pakistan in a 4-1 series of the T20 games. The Black Caps have been in good form in all forms, with their key players delivering when needed to.
For Pakistan, the series has exposed weakness in their top order and inability to build partnerships against quality seam bowling. Both of these vulnerabilities will have to be fixed before future international matches.
New Zealand's home dominance – NZ Herald
Looking Ahead: What's Next?
The third and final ODI is on Friday at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. While New Zealand has already secured the series, the match gives both teams an opportunity to:
- Experiment with their lineups and strategies.
- For Pakistan, it's a scoop to save face and find their momentum for upcoming games.
- A clean sweep for New Zealand would round off an exceptional series performance.
Conclusion
New Zealand's 84-run win in the second ODI against Pakistan reflected their well-balanced team performance. Mitchell Hay's 99 not out and Ben Sears' five-wicket performance were the pick in a match in which Pakistan still struggled.
As the two teams prepare for the last ODI, the Black Caps will look to continue their dominance, while Pakistan will look to stage a comeback and avoid a whitewash.
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