Babar's ton, Rauf's four-for propel Pakistan to second win
Cricket
The victory was largely because of glaring performance of Babar and Haris
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 38 runs in the second T20 international match played in Lahore on Saturday.
Babar Azam, who was dismissed for just nine runs in his 100th T20I match, redeemed himself with a quick 101 not out from 58 balls to propel Pakistan to a strong total of 192-4 in their 20 overs.
Haris Rauf, who had taken four wickets in Pakistan's win in the series opener, claimed another four wickets for just 27 runs to limit New Zealand to 154-7. Pakistan now leads the five-match series 2-0, with the last three matches to be played in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Mark Chapman scored a battling 65 not out for New Zealand, but lost partners at regular intervals, with Chad Bowes and captain Tom Latham putting on 44 for the first wicket. However, as the required run-rate increased, New Zealand's chase lost momentum.
Babar Azam remained the main contributor for Pakistan after winning the toss, elected to bat first. He smashed 11 fours and three sixes in his innings, which included a 99-run opening partnership with Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 50 off 34 balls, and a 87-run fifth-wicket partnership with Iftikhar Ahmed.
After removing Rizwan in the 11th over, New Zealand slowed Pakistan's charge as Matt Henry then dismissed Fakhar Zaman for a duck and finished with 2-29.
Saim Ayub also fell without scoring and Imad Wasim was out for two as Pakistan lost four wickets for just six runs in the space of 14 balls.
Azam started the 20th over on 84 and looked like he would end short of a century, but he took the attack to James Neesham -- dispatching the last ball over cover for a four to reach his ninth hundred in all T20 cricket.
Despite New Zealand's efforts to slow Pakistan's charge, Azam's attacking play in the last over took him to his third T20I century, making him the sixth highest preforming player to achieve this feat at international level. Only Chris Gayle of the West Indies has scored more centuries in the format with 22, while India's Rohit Sharma holds the record for most T20I tons with four.
