Pakistan confronted a five-wicket defeat towards New Zealand of their ODI World Cup warm-up match in Hyderabad on Friday. Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 345/5 in 50 overs with Mohammad Rizwan smashing 103 whereas skipper Babar Azam scoring 80 runs. Later, New Zealand chased down the goal in simply 43.4 overs as Rachin Ravindra taking part in a terrific knock of 97 runs. Apart from him, skipper Babar Azam additionally scored a half-century, who was taking part in his first match, since March.

Despite being on the dropping aspect, the match turned out to be memorable one for Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who scored a century in 93 balls. After the primary innings of the match, Rizwan expressed gratitude in the direction of the folks of Hyderabad for giving a heat welcome to the group on their arrival.

“A hundred is a hundred, proud and happy of it. Scoring a century for Pakistan is always special. The Indian crowd gave us a lot of love at the airport itself, just like how our fans love us back in Pakistan. We were welcomed in India in a great way,” Rizwan mentioned in the course of the mid-innings.

Rizwan additional spoke about his batting place within the group and said that he can bat wherever the group wants him.

“In T20Is I open for Pakistan, in Tests I bat at 6-7 and in ODIs I bat at number 4, I play according to the team requirements. Saud Shakeel is in great form and he played a classy knock today. Hopefully he turns out to be a great player in the ODI format as well. I and Babar try to rotate the strike, we bat similarly, our communication is good and that helps us,” he added.

Talking in regards to the match, Kane Williamson confirmed his class in his first aggressive outing in six months whereas Rachin Ravindra sizzled on the high of the order as New Zealand gunned down a 346-run goal.

Barring the openers, Pakistan batters together with Mohammad Rizwan (103 retired harm off 91), Babar Azam (80 off 84) and Saud Shaukeel (75 off 53) had an excellent hit within the center, serving to their group put up a frightening 345 for 5 in 50 overs.

New Zealand cruised to the goal in 43.4 overs with contributions from Ravindra (97 off 72), Williamson (54 off 50), Daryl Mitchell (59 retired harm off 57) and Mark Chapman (65 not out off 41).

(With PTI Inputs)