Ace pacer Mohammad Amir's return to international cricket was a successful one as he dazzled with an impressive spell in Pakistan's seven wicket win over New Zealand in their second T20I in Rawalpindi on April 20. After retiring in 2020, he came back strong and grabbed two wickets in his second T20I match. The opening game of the series was a washout, denying him a chance to bowl. However, in the second match, he wasted no time in making an impact.
Amir's bowling skills remained sharp despite the break. He struck with his second delivery after returning to international cricket, dismissing Tim Robinson. He continued his impressive performance, taking the wicket of Dean Foxcroft in the very next over. This successful comeback was marked by a heartwarming moment. Pakistan's captain Babar Azam, warmly congratulated Amir after his first wicket, showcasing a strong sense of team spirit.
This return is particularly interesting because Amir, as a cricket expert, had previously criticised the team and even Babar Azam himself. However, now that he's back playing under Babar's captaincy, it seems there's a newfound understanding and perhaps even support from the captain.
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How the Pakistan vs New Zealand's 2nd T20I unfolded?
The New Zealand batting line-up crumbled under the pressure of the Pakistani bowling attack. None of their batsmen could even reach 20 runs, and the entire team was dismissed for a paltry 90 runs. Shaheen Afridi continued his impressive form, striking early with the wicket of Tim Seifert on the very first ball of the third over. Mohammad Amir, returning from retirement, also had a successful outing, taking two wickets for just 13 runs in his three overs. He was ably supported by spinners Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan, who also picked up two wickets each.
Pakistan's chase got off to a shaky start with the early dismissal of Saim Ayub. However, captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan steadied the ship with a 37-run partnership for the second wicket. Unfortunately, Babar was dismissed for 14 runs by Michael Bracewell.
Rizwan, however, showed great composure and remained unbeaten on 45 runs off just 34 balls. He finished the chase in style with a boundary, reaching the milestone of 3,000 T20I runs in the process. His match-winning knock secured a comfortable victory for Pakistan and put them 1-0 up in the five-match series. The next match will be played at the same venue in Rawalpindi on Sunday, April 21. New Zealand is fielding a second-string squad for the Pakistan series due to player commitments in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Key players like Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, and Mitchell Santner are all currently in India for the lucrative T20 tournament. This isn't the first time this has happened - New Zealand players have opted for the IPL over a series in Pakistan in the past. Following the IPL, these players are expected to reunite and compete in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
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