LAHORE, Pakistan, 30 November 2003 — All-rounder Abdul Razzaq snatched an unlikely victory from a novice New Zealand side with a blazing unbeaten 47 off just 22 balls in the first One-Day International at Gaddafi Stadium yesterday.
Razzaq, named man of the match, hit three boundaries and two sixes and with Mohammad Sami, who made 17 from eight balls, including two sixes, successfully steered Pakistan to a challenging target of 292 in 48 overs.
Earlier, New Zealand captain Chris Cairns hit six sixes and five fours to help New Zealand reach 291-5 in their 50 overs after winning the toss and deciding to bat.
Razzaq and Sami needed 65 runs off 39 balls but both held their nerve and added 65 off just 27 balls for a match winning eighth-wicket stand.
Pakistan had started off disastrously, losing opener Imran Farhat in the third ball of the innings when debutant bowler Michael Mason forced an edge to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum for nought.
Yasir Hameed and Yousuf Youhana settled the home team with a 90-run second wicket stand, taking 23 off Cairns’ first two overs, although both fell within the space of two runs.
Youhana failed to beat a throw from Hamish Marshall in the covers and was run out for a 40-ball 42 with five boundaries while Hameed was caught in the covers for 52, including seven boundaries.
New Zealand was lifted by Cairns who hit leg-spinner Danish Kaneria for three sixes in the 48th over, scoring his first fifty in his last 11 one-day games. With Jacob Oram, he added a quickfire 90 off just 60 balls for the fifth wicket as New Zealand slogged 122 runs in the last ten overs.
Cairns took another 22 off the last over by Abdul Razzaq to complete the run rout.
Oram hit a 31-ball 35 with three boundaries and a six. Debutant Hamish Marshall and Mathew Sinclair also hit half centuries.
