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Pakistan suffered their second consecutive loss in the five-T20I series as they failed to chase down a target of 195 at Seddon Park, Hamilton on January 14. From 97/2 in the 10th over chasing a target of 195, Pakistan were bowled out for 173 as they lost to New Zealand by 21 runs despite half-centuries from Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam.
Earlier, Shaheen Afridi won the toss and opted to bowl first. Once again, Finn Allen went berserk in the powerplay overs. He did not spare Afridi or Haris Rauf. Aamer Jamal got the breakthrough with his first ball of the match. In the sixth over, Devon Conway departed for a 15-ball 20. After powerplay overs, the hosts were 65/1. In the ninth over, Allen reached his half-century with a maximum off Usama Mir. In the 10th over, Kane Williamson hit a six as the Kiwis crossed the 100-run mark. But just when he started to look dangerous, the Kiwi skipper retired hurt due to a cramp. He scored 26 runs from 15 balls.
Daryl Mitchell showed his intentions straightaway with a maximum off Abbas Afridi. In the 13th over, Mir got the prized wicket of Allen. The opener scored 74 runs from 41 balls including seven fours and five sixes. In the next over, Abbas ended Mitchell's stay at the crease. He scored 17 runs from 10 deliveries. After two quiet overs, Abbas dismissed Mark Chapman for a single-digit score. Mitchell Santner pushed the scoring rate in the slog overs. But Haris Rauf did not let them carry the momentum. In the penultimate over, he struck thrice to get rid of Glenn Phillips, Adam Milne, and Ish Sodhi. In the final over, Santner departed for a 13-ball 25. The skipper conceded seven runs from the final over as New Zealand posted 194/8.
In the run chase, Mohammad Rizwan hit a maximum first ball. But Tim Southee got the wicket of Sam Ayub with the fifth ball of the over. In the next over, Milne got the wicket of Rizwan to push the visitors on the back foot. Milne would have got another but Ben Sears dropped Zaman's catch at short fine leg. Azam looked like a man on a mission to shut down his critics. He hit several boundaries in the powerplay overs. Zaman took on Santner and hit him for two consecutive sixes. Babar got a second chance in the sixth over. Chapman dropped his catch at point off Sears' bowling. Zaman ended the powerplay overs with a maximum.
He continued the onslaught against Sodhi and hit him for two sixes as well. After two boundary-less overs, Zaman hit MIlne for two fours to reach his half-century from 23 balls. Milne got rid of him with a short-pitched delivery. He smashed five sixes and three fours in his 25-ball 50. At the halfway stage, Pakistan were 97/3. Boundaries dried up and Iftikhar Ahmed threw his wicket away against Sears. Azam Khan failed to make a mark too and became Sodhi's first victim. In his next over, he got Jamal stumped. Meanwhile, Babar reached his half-century from 36 balls. He hit Southee and Santner for one six each as the required run rate was rising up. Shaheen hit a six off Santner as well. Sears in his final over got the wicket of Babar. His 43-ball 66 featured seven fours and a couple of sixes.
Shaheen hit a six in Sears' final over. In the penultimate over, Milne struck twice to dismiss Shaheen and Mir. Abbas hit a six in the over to bring the equation to 23 runs in the final over. Southee wrapped up the proceedings with Rauf’s wicket. Pakistan were bowled out for 173 with three balls left in the innings.
After two consecutive losses, Pakistan will play in the must-win encounter at University Oval, Dunedin to keep the series alive.
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