PAK vs NZ: ‘Overconfident’ Shahid Afridi Makes Bold Prediction After Glenn Phillips’ Century

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Pakistan found themselves on the receiving end of Glenn Phillips’ explosive batting as New Zealand posted a mammoth 330/6 in the first ODI at Lahore. Phillips played a match-defining knock, scoring an unbeaten 106 off just 74 balls, smashing seven sixes and six fours. His aggressive innings turned the game in New Zealand’s favor, but former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi remains confident that the home side can successfully chase the target.

Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell Dominate Pakistan’s Bowling

New Zealand were in trouble at 39/2 and later 135/4, but Phillips and Daryl Mitchell led the recovery, ensuring that the visitors posted a strong total. Mitchell played a composed innings of 81 off 84 balls, striking four sixes and two fours. Kane Williamson also made a crucial contribution with 58 runs from 89 deliveries, anchoring the innings before Phillips’ late fireworks.

Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain New Zealand’s middle order, especially in the death overs. Shaheen Afridi picked up three wickets but was expensive, conceding 88 runs in his 10-over spell. Naseem Shah also had a tough outing, giving away 70 runs in his quota of overs.

Shahid Afridi Confident in Pakistan’s Batting Strength

Despite New Zealand’s strong total, Shahid Afridi believes Pakistan have the firepower to chase it down, especially in home conditions. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he praised Phillips for his brilliant knock but backed the Men in Green to come out on top.

“With seven batters, we should be able to chase this total, especially in our own conditions. Great batting by Phillips, but surely Pakistan are capable of chasing it down,” Afridi wrote.

Pakistan’s batting unit will now have the task of proving him right as they take on New Zealand’s bowling attack in the second innings. With the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman in the lineup, the hosts have the talent to chase down the target. However, it remains to be seen if they can handle the pressure and execute their plans effectively.

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