Pakistan captain Babar Azam delivered a masterclass under pressure, scoring an unbeaten 112 runs to guide his team to victory over New Zealand in the final One Day International (ODI) of the five-match series held in Lahore.
With this win, Pakistan clinched the series 3-2, capping off a competitive and entertaining tour between two well-matched sides.
📊 Match Summary:
- Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Result: Pakistan won by 6 wickets
- New Zealand: 289/7 (50 overs)
- Pakistan: 290/4 (47.3 overs)
- Player of the Match: Babar Azam – 112* (125 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes)
New Zealand, led by Tom Latham, posted a solid total thanks to a fluent 78 from Devon Conway and a late cameo by Glenn Phillips.
But Babar Azam anchored the chase flawlessly, combining composure with elegant stroke play. He received valuable support from Mohammad Rizwan (55) in a 115-run partnership that turned the match in Pakistan’s favor.
🗣️ Post-Match Quotes:
Babar Azam:
“Winning at home in front of our fans makes it even more special. The team showed great spirit after being 1-2 down in the series. I just focused on building partnerships and playing till the end.”
Tom Latham (New Zealand captain):
“We were 30–40 runs short. Credit to Babar and Pakistan — they outplayed us today.”
🌟 Babar’s Recent Form:
- 3 fifties and 1 century in the 5-match series
- Now has 22 ODI centuries, surpassing Sourav Ganguly
- His current ODI average: 59.1 (highest among active players with 4000+ runs)
🏆 Series Recap:
| Match | Winner | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | New Zealand | Rawalpindi |
| 2nd ODI | Pakistan | Rawalpindi |
| 3rd ODI | New Zealand | Multan |
| 4th ODI | Pakistan | Multan |
| 5th ODI | Pakistan | Lahore |
📌 What’s Next for Pakistan:
The team will now prepare for the Asia Cup 2025 in August, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be hosted in Pakistan.
Stay tuned for player ratings, tactical analysis, and post-series reflections as Pakistan builds momentum toward the summer tournaments.