HAMILTON, New Zealand: Pakistan bounced back from a horror start to set New Zealand a competitive target of 263 in the fourth one-day international in Hamilton on Tuesday.
Mohammad Hafeez top scored with 81 as the tourists’ batsmen finally managed to notch some runs, with Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail and captain Sarfraz Ahmed also posting half centuries.
Paceman Tim Southee led the New Zealand attack with three for 44 and skipper Kane Williamson took two for 32.
Pakistan finished their 50-over innings at 262 for eight, thanks to some big-hitting from Hafeez, who smashed 22 from the final over.
It was a gutsy fightback from a side that was reeling at 11 for two in the fifth over and looked in danger of another humiliation after being skittled for 74 in their last outing.
Already 3-0 in the five-match series, Pakistan had little to lose and promoted hard-hitting allrounder Faheem Ashraf to open the batting in the search for runs.
The gamble backfired when Faheem departed for one after edging a swinging Southee delivery to the wicketkeeper in the third over, bringing Babar Azam to the crease.
He lasted only nine balls before becoming Southee’s second victim, trudging back to the pavilion with only three runs to his name.
Fakhar Zaman was lucky not to follow him on seven when he spooned the ball to mid-wicket, only for Colin Munro to drop the chance.
Fakhar made the most of his life, bringing up his half century off 68 balls as part of a productive 86-run partnership with Haris Sohail before departing for 54.
Haris, returning to the ODI arena for the first time since 2015, also failed to push on after reaching 50, smashing the ball to Henry Nicholls on the boundary as he looked for a big six.
Incoming batsman Shoaib Malik had an injury scare as he ran into the path of fielder Munro’s throw while trying to scamper back to his crease and the ball hit him flush on the head.
Shoaib, who was not wearing a helmet, fell down onto the wicket but was able to continue after consultations with team medics, although he was dismissed in the next over.
Pakistan were 175 for five with 10 overs remaining before Sarfraz and partner Hafeez stepped up the pace.
Sarfraz Ahmed reached 51 off 46 balls while Hafeez’s 81 included five fours and four sixes.
Pakistan recover to set New Zealand target of 263
Pakistan recover to set New Zealand target of 263
World No. 1 duo Coello, Tapia headline historic padel exhibition in Abu Dhabi
- Stars play against each other in UAE’s capital
ABU DHABI: The world’s top-ranked padel players delivered a memorable showcase in the UAE’s capital on Wednesday as “The Ultimate Padel Match” lit up Space42 Arena at Al-Raha Beach.
Arturo Coello — the youngest player in history to reach the FIP (International Padel Federation) world No. 1 ranking — and Agustin Tapia, the joint world No. 1 renowned for his creative and attacking style, headlined a rare one-night exhibition that split the sport’s most dominant partnership.
Played outside the official professional tour calendar, the event saw Coello join forces with Spain’s Jorge “Coki” Nieto, the current FIP world No. 7 and winner of the 2024 Premier Padel Finals, while Tapia paired with Argentine World Champion Federico Chingotto, the FIP world No. 3 recognized for his exceptional defensive court coverage.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Tapia and Chingotto claimed a 7–6, 2–6, 6–3 victory in a high-quality contest that marked a first-of-its-kind showcase for fans in Abu Dhabi.
For Coello, the return to the capital of the UAE was as meaningful off the court as it was on it.
He said: “It’s our second time here, and it’s a real pleasure to play here and be in this city. Padel is growing a lot in Abu Dhabi, and today you could really feel how much people enjoyed the match. It’s an amazing event, and I hope people continue to enjoy and discover this sport.”
The Spaniard also underlined the importance of exhibition matches in accelerating the sport’s development in emerging markets.
“Padel is still quite new here, but when people can see the level we play at, it helps them connect with the game,” he said. “It’s a great moment for fans to start practicing and enjoying padel.”
Tapia echoed those sentiments, pointing to the role of such events in strengthening the local padel community.
He said: “I’m really happy to be back in Abu Dhabi. Padel is growing a lot in the city and across the country, and exhibition matches like this help bring the community together and contribute to that growth.”
Looking ahead, the Argentine player expressed hope of returning to compete again in the capital.
He said he “would love to come back,” before adding that “hopefully Abu Dhabi can host more tournaments in the future, so we can keep playing here.”
Beyond the court, both players embraced the cultural side of their visit. Coello described trips to the Zayed National Museum and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as highlights of his stay, calling them “an incredible experience.”
The unique format — pitting the world’s leading duo against each other rather than alongside one another — resonated strongly with spectators.
Danny Al-Abadi, 18, who traveled from Dubai to attend the event, said: “You don’t get many chances to see this level of padel up close. Seeing the best in the world compete against each other instead of together made it even more special, and matches like this really help people understand the sport better.”
“The Ultimate Padel Match” further reinforced Abu Dhabi’s growing status as a destination for world-class sporting events, while offering fans a rare opportunity to witness elite padel outside the structure of the professional tour.
