SHARJAH: Super 12s – Pakistan high from their historic win against India on Sunday, October 26, went on to collect another 2 points against New Zealand who were playing their first super 12s fixture today. New Zealand started off with a major blow with the news of star performer Lockie Ferguson being ruled out of the T20 world cup due to an injury.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first. Pakistan bowlers were on track with Shaheen Afridi opening the bowling with a maiden over. Pakistan was able to pick openers Guptill (17 runs) and Mitchell (27 runs) by the 8th over to have New Zealand reeling at 54 for 2 wickets with only a run rate of 6.5 per over. Captain Williamson batted well for 25 runs off 26 balls before being run out by Hasan Ali. At the end of 15th over New Zealand were 100 for 4 wickets with Conway at 21 runs off 17 balls.
Exceptional spell of 4 wickets for 22 runs by Haris Rauf tightened the grip on the New Zealand batting. He picked up Guptill, Conway (27 runs), Phillips (13 runs) and Santner (6 runs). Shaheen Afridi was economical (bowled 13 dot balls) and bowled his four overs for 21 runs for one wicket.
New Zealand was only able to reach 134 for 8 wickets off 20 overs against the lethal Pakistani bowlers (just 34 runs in the last 5 overs).
Pakistan chasing the score, started on the back foot with Pakistan captain Babar Azam out for just 9 runs. Rizwan kept the innings steady with a score of 33 runs however few quick wickets taken by New Zealand had Pakistan struggling at 69 for 4 wickets in the 11th over. Veteran Shoaib Malik did justice to Babar Azam’s decision to include him in the world cup squad. Shoaib Malik hit a cameo of 26 runs off 20 balls along with power hitting from Asif Ali (27 runs off 12 balls) to guide Pakistan to a clean win by 5 wickets with 8 balls left (135/5)
New Zealand did put their best efforts to make it a hard-earned win for the Pakistan batsman but overall Pakistan was too strong to win over. Ish Sodhi was the pick of the NZ bowlers (2 wickets for 28 runs).
Pakistan now leads the Group 2 points table with 4 points. Pakistan has now won both the matches they have played and that too with key teams (India and New Zealand).
Haris Rauf was named the player of the match for his clinical bowling spell of 4 for 22 runs off 4 overs. (RZ)
[Image credit icc-cricket.com]
