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Sharjah
Haris Rauf scalped four before Asif Ali came up with a blistering cameo (27 in 12 balls) to pull Pakistan to a well deserved five-wicket win over New Zealand at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday to continue their unbeaten start in Group 2 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
New Zealand were restricted by both spin and seam, with pace bowler Haris Rauf taking four for 22 as the Blackcaps made 134 for eight from their 20 overs.
Pakistan got off to a slow start in reply making 55 off their first 10 overs before Shoaib Malik, 26 not out off 20, and Asif Ali, 27 not out from 12 balls, powered them to victory.
With this win, Pakistan are now leading the Super 12 Group 2 with four points.
Asif whacked one four and three sixes while Shoaib Malik smashed 26 to help Pakistan chase down 135 despite a wobble in the middle.
Chasing 135, Pakistan got off to a slow start and Babar Azam’s wicket in the sixth over further dented the team’s hopes. Tim Southee cleaned bowled Babar to take his 100th T20I wicket.
Ish Sodhi then trapped Fakhar Zaman in front of the stumps as Pakistan got reduced to 47/2. The Babar-led side lost two quick wickets in the name of Mohammad Hafeez and Mohammad Rizwan as New Zealand gained control over the game.
Conway flew in the air to pull off an absolute stunner which ended Hafeez’s stint at the crease.
However, Asif came to rescue Pakistan as he stitched an unbeaten 48-run stand with Shoaib to take his home in the 19th over.
Earlier, With New Zealand making good progress at 36 for no loss after five overs, captain Babar Azam brought on death-overs specialist Rauf, with the bowler making an instant impact.
The first ball was right at Martin Guptill’s feet, and the second delivery he could do nothing about as it clattered off his thigh pad and into the stumps, as Guptill was forced to limp off having made 17 from 20.
Not having had the chance to bat against India, Fakhar Zaman was in the game taking two catches to dismiss Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham.
With New Zealand going at a run a ball, Kane Williamson was then given out lbw but a reprieve on review gave him a new lease of life as he scored three fours in a row to push New Zealand up to 90 for 3.
That would be his last contribution as he was run out for 25 off 26 balls, and with Williamson gone, New Zealand reverted back to their run-a-ball approach with Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway trading singles.
The pair would soon be out in the space of three balls, Rauf picking them both up to leave New Zealand 116 for six.
Afridi may have begun quietly, but he ended his spell to raucous cheers, using a slower ball to deceive Tim Seifert with Rauf then picking up Mitchell Santner to leave Pakistan with a target of 135.
Scores: New Zealand 134/8 (Devon Conway 27, Daryl Mitchell 27; Haris Rauf 4-22, Mohammad Hafeez 1-16) lost to Pakistan 135/5 in 18.4 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 33, Asif Ali 27 not out; Ish Sodhi 2-28; Tim Southee 1-25). Player of the Match: Haris Rauf (Pakistan).
Sharjah
Haris Rauf scalped four before Asif Ali came up with a blistering cameo (27 in 12 balls) to pull Pakistan to a well deserved five-wicket win over New Zealand at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday to continue their unbeaten start in Group 2 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.
New Zealand were restricted by both spin and seam, with pace bowler Haris Rauf taking four for 22 as the Blackcaps made 134 for eight from their 20 overs.
Pakistan got off to a slow start in reply making 55 off their first 10 overs before Shoaib Malik, 26 not out off 20, and Asif Ali, 27 not out from 12 balls, powered them to victory.
With this win, Pakistan are now leading the Super 12 Group 2 with four points.
Asif whacked one four and three sixes while Shoaib Malik smashed 26 to help Pakistan chase down 135 despite a wobble in the middle.
Chasing 135, Pakistan got off to a slow start and Babar Azam’s wicket in the sixth over further dented the team’s hopes. Tim Southee cleaned bowled Babar to take his 100th T20I wicket.
Ish Sodhi then trapped Fakhar Zaman in front of the stumps as Pakistan got reduced to 47/2. The Babar-led side lost two quick wickets in the name of Mohammad Hafeez and Mohammad Rizwan as New Zealand gained control over the game.
Conway flew in the air to pull off an absolute stunner which ended Hafeez’s stint at the crease.
However, Asif came to rescue Pakistan as he stitched an unbeaten 48-run stand with Shoaib to take his home in the 19th over.
Earlier, With New Zealand making good progress at 36 for no loss after five overs, captain Babar Azam brought on death-overs specialist Rauf, with the bowler making an instant impact.
The first ball was right at Martin Guptill’s feet, and the second delivery he could do nothing about as it clattered off his thigh pad and into the stumps, as Guptill was forced to limp off having made 17 from 20.
Not having had the chance to bat against India, Fakhar Zaman was in the game taking two catches to dismiss Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham.
With New Zealand going at a run a ball, Kane Williamson was then given out lbw but a reprieve on review gave him a new lease of life as he scored three fours in a row to push New Zealand up to 90 for 3.
That would be his last contribution as he was run out for 25 off 26 balls, and with Williamson gone, New Zealand reverted back to their run-a-ball approach with Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway trading singles.
The pair would soon be out in the space of three balls, Rauf picking them both up to leave New Zealand 116 for six.
Afridi may have begun quietly, but he ended his spell to raucous cheers, using a slower ball to deceive Tim Seifert with Rauf then picking up Mitchell Santner to leave Pakistan with a target of 135.
Scores: New Zealand 134/8 (Devon Conway 27, Daryl Mitchell 27; Haris Rauf 4-22, Mohammad Hafeez 1-16) lost to Pakistan 135/5 in 18.4 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 33, Asif Ali 27 not out; Ish Sodhi 2-28; Tim Southee 1-25). Player of the Match: Haris Rauf (Pakistan).
