Babar and Haris help Pakistan defeat New Zealand by 38 runs
LAHORE: Dominant Pakistan displayed all-round brilliance to breeze past nervy New Zealand in the second PAK vs NZ T20I and moved one victory within sealing the series victory.
The second T20I of the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand was played here at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam, once again opted to bat first after the coin flipped in his favour and his men proved his decision right by posting a massive total on the scoreboard.
The target set by the Green Shirts eventually proved to be too much for the touring side as they succumbed to the second straight defeat in the series.
The two sides will lock horns in the third T20I on Monday (April 17th) with Babar-led Pakistan eyeing the series triumph.
The guest side could post only 154 runs on the board after losing seven wickets in 20 overs. Mark Chapman offered considerable resistance to Pakistan’s attack and remained not out after making 65 runs on the board.
After Babar Azam batting, Haris Rauf once again ran through the Kiwis by claiming four wickets after giving 27 runs in four overs.
Others Pakistani bowlers Zaman Khan, Shadab Khan, and Imad Wasim claimed one wicket each.
Green Shirts skipper Babar Azam was declared man of the match for his wonderful batting.
Green Shirts have set a 193-run target for New Zealand in the second T20I of the five-match series being played at the Gadhafi Stadium here on Saturday.
Earlier, the home side posted 192 for four in their allotted 20 overs, with the help of Babar Azam who made a century at the last ball of the match. He secured his 18th century in his T-20I career with the help of three sixes and eleven fours. His opening partner Mohammad Rizwan scored fifty runs. They shared a 97-run opening stand. However following Rizwan’s wicket, the hosts lost three quick wickets in quick succession.
New Zealand’s fast bowler Matt Henry got two wickets while James Neesham and Rachin Ravindra claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first against Kiwis.
Pakistan haven’t made any changes to the team and Babar Azam says he is blessed to have so many options to pick from.
Pakistan proved to be too strong for New Zealand in their backyard in the first T20 as the big guns returned to the squad and made life difficult for the depleted New Zealand side, handing them an 88-run drubbing. Pakistan’s fast bowling arsenal was too hot to handle in the series opener for the touring party and the Tom-Latham-led side should expect more of the same tonight. The anointed prince of Pakistan cricket Babar Azam celebrated his 100th T20I with a massive win at his home ground but he failed to get going and was castled at 9 by Adam Milne.
Haris Rauf returned his career-best figures of 4/18 and was one of the architects of the clinical win last night as he trampled over the Black Caps’ middle order that collapsed like a house of cards.
Saim Ayub played some delectable shots the other night and waltzed his way to 47 while Fakhar Zaman used his wealth of experience and acted as the protege in the 79-run stand as the duo put pressure back on New Zealand after the openers got out early in the piece.
New Zealand’s best chances of challenging Pakistan at their fortress is by restricting them to a modest total and bat out of their skins to ruffle the full-strength home side. Matt Henry took a hat trick in his figures of 3-32 while Milne was outstanding with the new ball and they both need to rip through the batting order and create panic to give themselves a good chance to topple star-studded Pakistan line-up.
Squads:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c & wk), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham. Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister.
