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New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell created history at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the first ODI of five-ODI series against Pakistan. Mitchell registered the highest individual ODI score by a New Zealand batter in ODIs on Pakistan soil. Mitchell scored 113 in the ODI series opener.
The previous record belonged to former New Zealand batting all-rounder Craig McMillan who scored 105 at the same venue on April 24, 2002. However, the Kiwis ended up losing the ODI by three wickets.
Mitchell became the fourth New Zealand batter to score an ODI century against Pakistan on Pakistan soil. Apart from McMillan, Hamish Marshall (101 not out) and Devon Conway scored an ODI century on Pakistan soil in 2003 and 2023 respectively.
Mithcell walked in to bat at no.3 in the 10th over after Haris Rauf dismissed Chad Bowes (18). In the 21st over, Mitchell got a reprieve when Afgha Salman dropped a catch off his own bowling. He was batting on 23 then. Before Mitchell, opener Will Young had a chance to break the record but he lost his wicket to leg-spinner Shadab Khan. He scored 86 runs from 78 balls including eight fours and two sixes.
Mitchell got to his half-century from 60 balls. He got to his century with a four in the 42nd over. It is his second ODI century. Mitchell lost his wicket to Shaheen Afridi in the 47th over of the innings. He scored 113 runs from 115 balls including 11 fours and one six.
After Mitchell's wicket, not a single boundary was hit in the slog overs. Naseem Shah ended the innings with two consecutive wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Adam Milne as New Zealand posted 288/7.
Mitchell’s ODI century may be a solution to New Zealand team management’s headache ahead of ODI World Cup 2023. With Kane Williamson highly unlikely to recover before the marquee event in India later this year, Mitchell can bat at no.3. Earlier, on the tour, Mitchell struggled to make an impact. He scored 71 runs from five T20I innings at an average of 14.20.
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