In a rain-curtailed contest at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 43 runs in the third ODI of the ongoing series. The match, reduced to 42 overs per side due to a wet outfield, still managed to deliver plenty of action and a rare moment that caught the attention of fans and commentators alike.
Batting first, New Zealand posted a competitive total of 264/8 in 42 overs, with consistent contributions across the board. In response, Pakistan were bowled out for 221 in exactly 40 overs, falling short despite valiant efforts from Babar Azam (50 off 58 balls), Mohammad Rizwan (37 off 32), and Tayyab Tahir (33 off 31). For the hosts, Ben Sears starred with four wickets, while Jacob Duffy chipped in with three, sealing the series with a clinical performance.
But what stood out most from Pakistan’s innings was the presence of 12 batters in the scorecard — something not often seen in ODIs.
The reason? Imam-ul-Haq, who opened the innings, had to retire hurt after facing 7 deliveries, scoring just 1 run. Later, Pakistan invoked the concussion substitute rule, bringing in Usman Khan as a replacement. Usman subsequently took part in the innings, scoring 12 runs off 17 balls.
As per ICC’s concussion protocol, a like-for-like replacement is allowed when a player is ruled out due to a suspected concussion. This meant both Imam and his substitute Usman Khan were listed on the batting scorecard, resulting in a total of 12 players batting for Pakistan.
While Pakistan couldn’t chase down the target, this rare moment added an unusual twist to an otherwise competitive match — showcasing how cricket continues to evolve with modern rules coming into play.
