New Zealand thrashed Pakistan by 78 runs in the opening game of ODI tri-series on Saturday (February 8). Glenn Phillips' blistering 106* off 74 deliveries steered the Kiwis to 330 on the board. In reply, Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner's three wickets each helped them get a comfortable 78 runs victory.

Glenn Phillips Opting to bat first, Will Young fell earlier on to Shaheen Shah Afridi. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson stitched a little partnership of 35 runs before the departure of Ravindra on 25 off 19 balls. Williamson then found Daryl Mitchell and the duo added a massive 95-run stand. Along the way, both of them brought up their fifties and laid a solid platform for the middle order batters. Shaheen Afridi removed Williamson on 58 and then Haris Rauf had captain Tom Latham on a three-ball duck as New Zealand fell in further trouble.

Abrar Ahmed dismissed Mitchell after his superb 81 off 84 deliveries. And then Glenn Phillips stoo tall and kept steering the Kiwis, smashing ins and outs and blasted a sensational 106* off only 74 deliveries, smacking 7 sixes and 6 boundaries to help the Kiwis get a massive 330 on the board.

In reply, Michael Bracewell removed Babar Azam cheaply. And then Mitchell Santner had Kamran Ghulam after his struggling 18 off 32 balls. Skipper Mohammad Rizwan too departed cheaply as Pakistan fell into deep trouble earlier on.

Fakhar Zaman stood tall and smashed a sensational 84 off 69 deliveries but others were unable to capitalise those chances as Pakistan were folded for a paltry 252 runs and ultimately lost the game by a massive margin of 78 runs.