Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 3rd ODI Highlights: PAK Defeat NZ By 26 Runs, Seal Series

Pakistan sealed the ODI series against New Zealand with a thrilling 26-run victory in the third ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The victory was a testament to Pakistan's all-round performance, as they dominated with both bat and ball to secure the series win.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan got off to a solid start, with openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq putting on a 66-run partnership. Babar Azam continued his rich vein of form and scored yet another half-century, while Mohammad Rizwan contributed with a well-made 75. As a result, Pakistan posted a challenging total of 279/8 in their 50 overs.

In response, New Zealand got off to a disastrous start, losing their first three wickets for just 19 runs. The middle order offered some resistance, with Tom Latham scoring a half-century and Henry Nicholls contributing with a gritty 56. However, the Pakistani bowlers maintained their discipline and picked up wickets at regular intervals to keep the pressure on the New Zealand batsmen.

The star of the show for Pakistan was Shaheen Afridi, who finished with figures of 4/38 in his 10 overs. He was well supported by Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan, who picked up two wickets each. New Zealand was eventually bowled out for 253 in the 45th over, handing Pakistan a 26-run victory and the series win.

The victory was a special one for Pakistan, as they had lost the T20I series against New Zealand earlier in the tour. However, they bounced back strongly in the ODI series and showed why they are a force to be reckoned with in the limited-overs format.

The series win was also a significant milestone for Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who became the fastest player to reach 14 ODI centuries. He achieved the feat in just 81 innings, beating the previous record held by Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.

In conclusion, Pakistan's victory in the third ODI against New Zealand was a thrilling affair and showcased their talent and resilience as a team. With the ODI World Cup coming up later this year, the series win will give Pakistan a much-needed boost in confidence as they look to make their mark on the global stage. The team will now shift its focus to the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, where they will look to continue their winning run.