New Zealand advanced one step closer to securing the series victory with a 21-run triumph over Pakistan in the second Twenty20 International match on Sunday at Seddon Park in Hamilton.The visitors encountered early difficulties in their pursuit of the 195-run target, losing both openers, Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub, for 10 runs in the first overs.
Pakistan loses second T20I to New Zealand
Following two early withdrawals, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam salvaged the Green Shirts by combining for an impressive 87 runs. Zaman, in particular, deservedly reached fifty off 24 deliveries of opposition with the assistance of three fours and five sixes.
However, wickets began to fall as soon as Fakhar was dismissed by Adam Milne, and the visitors quickly reduced the hosts to 125-6 in 14.3 overs. Aamer Jamal (9 off 8), Iftikhar Ahmed (4 off 8), and Azam Khan (2 off 3) all failed to remain and assist their side in putting up a fight.
Babar Azam, similar to the previous match, led the Men in Green in scoring with 66 runs off 43 runs, including nine boundaries, but his effort was in futile. Following Milne with four wickets each were Ish Sodhi and Ben Sears, both of whom took two.
Earlier in the first innings, right-handeder Finn Allen scored 74 runs off of just 41 balls, including five sixes and seven fours, to propel New Zealand to a 194-run total. Due to Allen’s outstanding start, the host team appeared poised to amass a substantial total, but everything began to unravel in the thirteenth over when he was dismissed by Usama Mir’s googly.
The host team trailed 137-2 after 13 overs when Allen returned to the pavilion; however, they scored a mere 57 runs in the final seven overs. The resurgence of the Pakistani bowling staff in the match limited the in-form New Zealanders to 194 runs, a target they are still capable of pursuing.
Haris Rauf rose to the top of the wicket-takers standings for Pakistan with three dismissals in the nineteenth over. With the exception of the visitors’ captain, Shaheen Afridi, each bowler secured a wicket.
Playing XIs
- Pakistan:Â Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Aamer Jamal, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi (c), Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf
- New Zealand:Â Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears
