Cricket fans experienced a wild ride during the third ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand at the picturesque Bay Oval. As they anticipated a competitive clash, an unexpected blackout stunned everyone during the 39th over. Floodlights suddenly went off mid-over, plunging the field into total darkness. The bizarre and tense moment created a dangerous situation, but fortunately, no one was hurt. The incident added an unexpected twist to an already dramatic game.
The Match Setup
Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval played host to the final ODI in a series already sealed by New Zealand. Wet conditions had earlier forced officials to reduce the game to 42 overs per side. Despite the drizzle, the lush outfield and lively pitch promised an exciting finish to the series.
With rain affecting the conditions, the match was shortened. Pakistan, captained by Mohammad Rizwan, chose to field first—hoping to use the damp conditions to their advantage. But New Zealand had other plans.
New Zealand’s Batting Performance
The young gun Rhys Mariu made the most of his chance, notching up his maiden ODI half-century. His 58 off 61 balls was calm, composed, and classy. He held the innings together after the early loss of Nick Kelly. Later in the innings, captain Michael Bracewell lit up the Bay Oval with a whirlwind 59 off just 40 balls.
He smacked six sixes and added crucial late runs to push New Zealand past the 260 mark. Mitchell fell just short of a fifty, but his partnership with Mariu was key. Lahore-born spinner Mohammad Abbas chipped in with some runs, making it a well-rounded team effort.
Pakistan’s Bowling Effort
Amidst the Kiwi onslaught, one Pakistani bowler stood tall—Sufiyan Muqeem. He bowled with control and guile, picking up crucial wickets and keeping the middle overs tight. His performance was one of the few positives for Pakistan. The slippery outfield made things tricky.
The Bizarre Power Failure Incident
Just as Jacob Duffy steamed in to deliver another ball in the 39th over, the unthinkable happened—lights out. The entire ground was suddenly plunged into darkness. Fans were stunned, players froze, and commentators scrambled for words. Luckily, Duffy hadn’t released the ball. If he had, we might’ve been looking at a disaster. With the batter mid-stance and the bowler in full motion, the timing couldn’t have been more dangerous. Just after play resumed, Duffy bowled the very next delivery and got the batter out.
Math ke bich mein light cut gai 🤣😂🤣#PakistanCricket #PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/u8ER5uyYJS
— Lol Factory (@Prithviraj23239) April 5, 2025
Pakistan’s Batting Collapse
Pakistan’s chase got off to a rocky start. Imam-ul-Haq was struck on the jaw by a throw and had to retire hurt. That shook the team early on, disrupting momentum. Babar Azam tried to steady the ship. His 50 was classy and composed, a typical Babar innings. But once he fell, Pakistan’s hopes dimmed quickly.
Jacob Duffy picked up 2 wickets and kept things tight, while Ben Sears was simply unplayable. For the second game in a row, he grabbed a five-wicket haul (5-34), bulldozing Pakistan’s middle and lower order.
New Zealand Dominating Performance
Chasing 265, Pakistan were all out for 221. They never really looked in control after the early loss of wickets. Despite efforts from Babar and Rizwan, the innings fizzled out quickly after the power failure interruption.
New Zealand won the game by 43 runs and wrapped up the series 3-0. This ODI sweep came on the heels of a dominant T20 series where New Zealand won 4-1. Clearly, they had Pakistan’s number throughout the tour.
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