Babar Azam’s half-century went in vain as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 21 runs at Seddon Park in Hamilton in the second T20I of their five-match series.
NZ vs PAK, 2nd T20I: Highlights
Opener Finn Allen and pacer Adam Milne were the stars for New Zealand as the hosts took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
ALLEN LIGHTS UP THE POWERPLAY
Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss for Pakistan and asked the hosts to bat first. Openers Allen and Devon Conway got their side off to a brilliant start, with the two batters going hell for leather from the get-go.
The opening pair stitched a 59-run stand before Conway was dismissed by Aamer Jamal in the sixth over. However, Allen continued his onslaught and formed another 52-run partnership, this time with Kane Williamson, before the New Zealand skipper left the field after being retired hurt. Williamson felt tightness in his hamstring and decided to leave the field.
Allen then went on to complete his half-century before being dismissed by Usama Mir in the 13th over. However, the damage had been done by then as the opener smashed 74 runs off 41 balls, hitting seven boundaries and five sixes.
Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner chipped in with 17 and 25 runs each to take their side to 194 for 8 in the first innings. Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, claiming three wickets while giving away 38 runs in four overs.
PAKISTAN GET OFF TO POOR START
Chasing 195, Pakistan got off to a horrendous start as both openers Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan were dismissed within the first two overs. Tim Southee, who became the only men’s cricketer to pick 150 T20I wickets, kicked-off proceedings for the Kiwis.
Ayub was the first to fall as Southee sent him packing in the first over itself. Adam Milne then struck in the second over, as Rizwan edged a back-of-a-length delivery to wicket-keeper Conway.
BABAR, FAKHAR REVIVE PAKISTAN
With Pakistan reeling at 10 for 2, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman took the attack to the hosts and formed an 87-run stand. Fakhar went on to complete 6000 in T20 cricket en route to his half-century. He smashed 50 runs off 25 deliveries, hitting three boundaries and five sixes before being dismissed by Milne in the 10th over.
Babar, kept scoring at a brilliant strike-rate but was not provided with support on the other end as wickets kept tumbling around him. Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan and Aamer Jamal came and went without moving the scoreboard much, as Pakistan who were once cruising at 97 for 2 found themselves languishing at 125 for 6.
Babar completed his half-century before falling at the hands of Ben Sears in the 18th over. Babar scored 66 runs off 43 balls, smashing seven boundaries and two sixes. Skipper Shaheen played a quick-fire knock of 22 off 13 but couldn’t take his team over the line, falling at the hands of Milne in the 19th over. They were eventually bundled for 173, losing the match by 21 runs.
With this win, New Zealand took a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. The two sides will now clash in what is a must-win game for Pakistan at University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday, January 17.
