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Pakistan thrash New Zealand by 48 runs in 2nd T20I, level series

Dunya News

Fakhar Zaman was declared Man of the Match for his brilliant knock.

AUCKLAND (Dunya News/AFP) – Pakistan crushed New Zealand by 48 runs in the second T20 in Auckland on Thursday to notch their first victory of the tour over the Black Caps.

The tourists finally found form with both bat and ball to level the three-match T20 series after a humiliating losing streak that included a 5-0 ODI series whitewash.

They set an imposing target of 202 after winning the toss and electing to bat, with half centuries for Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman.

In response, New Zealand s top order crumbled to 64 for six under a combination of tight bowling and commitment in the field from Pakistan.

"Pakistan were excellent tonight in all departments and we weren t that good in any department," New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said.

"When you catch them on a great day, you get the result we got."

Openers Fakhar and Ahmed Shehzad laid the platform with a partnership of 94.

Pakistan s previous best top-order partnership during the six limited-over matches played on tour so far was just 14.

The pair made the most of Eden Park s short boundaries to comfortably dispatch anything short or wide for four.

They punished pacemen Ben Wheeler and Seth Rance, who both conceded 13 runs in an over, prompting New Zealand to introduce spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner.

Fakhar responded by belting three sixes off Santner s first over, bringing up his maiden T20 half century soon after off 26 balls.

Rance finally broke through in the ninth over, deceiving Ahmed with a slower ball that carried straight to Colin de Grandhomme on the boundary.

Fakhar fell in the next over but Sarfraz Ahmed and Babar kept the scoreboard ticking over, taking Pakistan to 137 for two with five overs remaining.

Sarfraz in particular displayed a confidence that had so far eluded him on tour to make 41 off 24 deliveries.

Babar brought up his 50 and took the team past 200 with a four off the final ball of the innings.

Pakistan s bowling attack capitalised on the good work from their batsmen by dislodging New Zealand s top order cheaply.

Faheem Ashraf ended with figures of three for 22 while Shadab Khan and Mohammad Amir each took two wickets.

Colin Munro was trapped lbw for one then, captain Kane Williamson made a rare golden duck before Tom Bruce was run out thanks to some sharp fielding from Haris Sohail.

The home team s hopes faded when Shadab Khan took the prized scalp of Martin Guptill for 26, leaving the Black Caps teetering at 52 for four and needing more than 11 runs an over.

Ben Wheeler and Mitchell Santner combined for a 54-run partnership but the early-innings damage meant the target was beyond them.

New Zealand fall of wickets:

 

Live Updates

New Zealand Innings

Over 18.3, NZ 153/10
Sodhi Out!

New Zealand are all out. Pakistan have levelled the series as Sodhi (15 off 12, 1x4, 1x6) is the last batsman to be dismissed.

Over 18.1, NZ 153/9
Rance Out!

Faheem Ashraf dismisses Rance (1 off 2). Pakistan within touching distance of levelling the series.

Over 17.5, NZ 152/8
Santner Out!

Mohammad Amir takes Santner’s (37 off 28, 4x4) wicket who played an aggressive innings down the order.

Over 14.3, NZ 118/7
Wheeler Out!

Wheeler (30 off 20, 2x4, 2x6) is out after playing a cameo, bowled by Hasan Ali.

Over 8.2, NZ 64/6
Grandhomme Out!

New Zealand batters perishing like Pakistan during the whole tour. Grandhomme (10 off 3) is stumped off Shadab’s bowling.

Over 7.5, NZ 58/5
Phillips Out!

Faheem Ashraf comes into the action and sends Phillips (5 off 9) back to the dugout.

Over 6.5, NZ 52/4
Guptill Out!

Shadab Khan dismisses Guptill (26 off 27, 1x4, 1x6) to put the Kiwis in deep trouble.

 

Over 5.4, NZ 47/3
Bruce Out!

Everything working for Pakistan till now. Tom Bruce (11 off 8) is run out by Haris Sohail, direct hit.

Over 3.3, NZ 28/2
Williamson out!

Rumman Raees picks up the key wicket of Williamson (0 off 1). Pakistan on fire.

Over 3, NZ 25/1
Munro Out!

Amir traps Munro (1 off 2) on the last ball of third over as Pakistan strike early.

New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro are out in the middle to chase Pakistan’s total.

Pakistan Innings

Over 20, Pak 201/4

Pakistan have scored 201 runs in their 20 overs and New Zealand now require 202 runs to win the series. Babar Azam (50 off 29, 5x4, 1x6) and Hasan Ali (6 off 4, 1x4) remained not out.

Watch Babar Azam’s innings:

Over 18.5, Pak 188/4
Faheem Out!

Two wickets in three balls. Faheem Ashraf (0 off 1) is out without troubling the scorers. Hasan Ali joins Babar Azam at the crease.

Over 18.3, Pak 187/3
Sarfraz Out!

Sarfraz Ahmed (41 off 24, 2x4, 3x6) is out just when Pakistan were cruising towards 200 runs, dismissed by Wheeler. Faheem Ashraf comes in the middle.

Over 15, Pak 137/2

Babar Azam (23 off 16) and Sarfraz Ahmed (15 off 12) keep the score ticking after two quick wickets. Pakistan sensing a big total with eight wickets in hand.

Watch Fakhar Zaman’s innings:

Over 10.3, 96/2
Zaman Out!

Pakistan lose both openers after a wonderful start. Zaman (50 off 28, 5x4, 3x6) has been removed by Grandhomme. Babar Azam and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed at the crease.

Over 10, Pak 94/1
Shehzad Out!

Fakhar Zaman (56 off 26) is in red hot form, hitting the bowlers all over the ground, but Ahmed Shehzad (44 off 34) is out on the last ball of the tenth over. Zaman has hit five fours and three sixes. Shehzad struck six boundaries and a maximum in his innings. Pakistan run rate at the moment is 9.40.

Over 5, Pak 44/0

Openers give a good aggressive start to the tourists with a run rate of 8.8 in first five overs. Fakhar Zaman (22 off 14) and Ahmed Shehzad (22 off 17) have both hit four boundaries apiece.

Fakhar Zaman and Ahmed Shehzad open the innings for Pakistan. Pakistan have made only one change to their squad as Shehzad comes in for Mohammad Nawaz.

The match began at 11:00 PM (PST) at Eden Park, Auckland.

Sarfraz at toss:

It looks a good batting pitch so hopefully we can come up with a good score then defend it," captain Sarfraz Ahmed said. 

"I’ve just told the boys ‘play your natural game, don’t worry about the result, we have nothing to lose’."

Pakistan recalled opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad in a bid to make a strong start as they chase their first win on tour against the Black Caps.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson returns for the hosts after missing the first match with a thigh strain.

Trent Boult is also back alongside rookie paceman Ben Wheeler, while Tim Southee is rested.

The three-match series will finish in Tauranga on Sunday.

Teams:

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Amin, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), Tom Bruce, Glenn Phillips, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ben Wheeler, Ish Sodhi, Seth Rance, Trent Boult.

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