Srinagar: Pakistan star wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan was in flow in the first ODI against New Zealand, leading Pakistan to six wicket win in Karachi.
Brushing aside all the current controversy in the Pakistan cricket despite the fact he was dropped from the Test team, Rizwan played a matured inning to lead his team home.
Rizwan struck a brisk unbeaten 77 from No. 4 to guide Pakistan to victory in their chase of 256. The highlight of Rizwan’s innings came when he was on 57. Lockie Ferguson fired in a well-directed 90mph bouncer, only for Rizwan to arch backwards and ramp the ball over New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Latham for four.
After playing the shot, Rizwan ended up on the floor and soon struggled with cramp but he managed to recover to steer his side home.
It was superb display of his hand-eye coordination showcased by Rizwan with that with that falling scoop.
The shot was on display on the fifth ball of the 44th over in the Pakistani run-chase. Facing Ferguson, New Zealand’s quickest seamer, Mohammad Rizwan hoped for one that rises off the turf and gives him enough speed on the bat to get it over the keeper for a boundary.
As it happened, though, the delivery not only moved off the surface but got stuck for a millisecond extra to deny Rizwan his desired timing and the angle to perfect the shot. He still managed to get it over Kiwi glover Tom Latham and past deep fine-leg fielder Tim Southee for four more runs to his and Pakistan’s kitty.