Pakistan and New Zealand that took place on May 5th, 2023.
Pakistan won the fourth match of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand by a margin of 102 runs. The hosts posted a formidable total of 334 for 6 after being put in to bat. Babar Azam, the Pakistan skipper, led from the front with a century, his 18th in ODIs. Salman, Masood, and Haris provided valuable contributions with the bat to ensure that the team had a strong total to defend.
The Pakistani bowlers, who had struggled in the previous game, were back to their best. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were excellent in the powerplay, with Afridi dismissing the dangerous Tom Latham cheaply yet again. Mohammad Wasim struck with his first ball, and the New Zealand batsmen struggled to keep up with the asking rate.
Daryl Mitchell and Latham put on a steady partnership, but the run-rate was not enough to threaten Pakistan's total. Usama Mir, who was filling in for the injured Shadab Khan, picked up four wickets to register his best figures in an ODI match. Mark Chapman provided some resistance in the middle order with a quickfire 46, but it was not enough to take New Zealand to victory.
Pakistan's victory ensured that they would take an unassailable 4-0 lead in the five-match series. The win also propelled them to the top of the ICC ODI rankings, a testament to their consistent performances over the past few months.
One of the standout performers in the match was Babar Azam, who had a record-breaking day. In addition to his century, he became the quickest player to reach 5000 ODI runs, surpassing the previous record held by Hashim Amla. Babar's consistency at the top of the order has been a major factor in Pakistan's success in recent times.
Another player who had a memorable day was Usama Mir. The young leg-spinner had been in and out of the Pakistan team in recent years but took his chance in this game with an excellent display. His four wickets included the crucial dismissals of Mitchell and Chapman and helped Pakistan secure an easy victory.
Overall, it was an impressive performance by Pakistan, who have been in excellent form in both ODI and T20 cricket over the past year. They will be hoping to finish the series on a high with a win in the final match and continue their winning momentum ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
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