Pakistan Tops the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings
With a 102-run victory over hapless New Zealand, the Pakistan cricket team tops the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings for the first time ever. Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored his 18th century and led Pakistan to a 102-run victory over New Zealand in the fourth one-day international.
New Zealand’s batting lineup collapsed and was bowled out for a paltry 232 in the 43rd over, despite their captain Tom Latham’s score of 60, thus handing the host team an enormous 102-run victory. Will Young (15) and Tom Blundell (36) scored 36 runs for the first wicket before Tom Blundell was dismissed in the eighth over by Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Congratulations, Pakistan 🎉
They go to the top of the @MRFWorldwide ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GUq2CjOEoK
— ICC (@ICC) May 5, 2023
Tom Blundell, who scored 23 off 29 balls before gifting a straightforward catch to Iftikhar Ahmed off Haris Rauf in the ninth over, was another setback for New Zealand. During his sixth-wicket partnership with Iftikhar, the Pakistan captain made history by scoring his 18th ODI century in record time.
In the meantime, Iftikhar, who was on fire, skied one off Henry in the 47th over before returning to the pavilion, having scored 28 runs off 22 deliveries with five fours. Babar Azam’s stay at the crease was fleeting after Iftikhar’s dismissal, as he was run out in the following over after scoring the most runs for his team. His extraordinary innings of 107 off 117 deliveries included 10 boundaries.
Also Read: Babar Azam Becomes Fastest Batter to 5000 ODI Runs
