Naseem takes 5 as Pakistan beat New Zealand

Pakistan strolled to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first one-day international yesterday after fast bowler Naseem Shah took five wickets in Karachi.
The 19-year-old grabbed 5-57 for his second five-wicket haul in just four ODI appearances as New Zealand, sent in to bat, managed 255-9 in their 50 overs at the National Stadium.
Mohamed Rizwan (77 not out), skipper Babar Azam (66) and Fakhar Zaman (56) then helped Pakistan cruise to victory with 11 balls to spare.
The home team took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The remaining matches are tomorrow and Friday, also in Karachi.
Naseem, the Player of the Match, said yesterday: “Good performance is fun only when the team wins. Everyone bowled well. It was reversing, and I just bowled to my strength.”
Azam and Zaman put on 78 runs for the second wicket after Imam-ul-Haq (11) fell in the sixth over.
Zaman hit seven boundaries in his 74-ball knock before he was bowled by Michael Bracewell, while Azam was stumped off Glenn Phillips after facing 82 deliveries.
Rizwan, who added 60 with Azam, put on another 64 with Haris Sohail who made a quick-fire 32. Off-spinner Bracewell was the best New Zealand bowler with 2-44.
Captain Azam said: “We utilised the new ball, and fast bowlers executed the plan. All the credit goes to them. We knew it would be cold, and there would be dew... It was difficult for a new batter coming in. In the end, Rizwan was outstanding. It is good to have options as a captain, and I have a lot of them in terms of fast bowlers as well as spinners.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said: “We would have liked a few runs. Pakistan were clinical with the ball. There were glimpses where the game could have changed. Pakistan adapted better. There were a number of mid-partnerships, but no one going on... The toss had an impact, but I still feel there was enough assistance (with the ball) in the second half. We got some turn, and it skidded on with the new ball.”
Earlier, it was Naseem’s fiery bowling that kept New Zealand in check. The teenager dismissed opener Devon Conway in the first over of the match for nought to kickstart Pakistan. Naseem returned for a second spell to account for Phillips (37), Bracewell (43) and Henry Shipley (nought).
Naseem, whose first ODI five-wicket haul was against the Netherlands in August, rounded off his night by dismissing Mitchell Santner for 21 in the final over. Tom Latham (42) and Daryl Mitchell (36) stabilised the innings during a fourth-wicket stand of 56, while Phillips and Bracewell added 66 off 59 balls for the sixth - before Naseem dismissed both in successive overs. Skipper Williamson scored 26 before he was beautifully bowled by debutant leg-spinner Usama Mir, who finished with 2-42. Phillips hit a six and a four in his 53-ball knock, while Bracewell cracked four boundaries and a six. Opener Finn Allen smashed six boundaries in his 27-ball 29.

Brief scores
New Zealand 255-9, 50 overs (M. Bracewell 43, T. Latham 42, G. Phillips 37, D. Mitchell 36; Naseem Shah 5-57) lost to
Pakistan 258-4, 48.1 overs (Mohamed Rizwan 77 not out, Babar Azam 66, Fakhar Zaman 56; M. Bracewell 2-44) by 6 wickets