Cricket - T20i
Live from Pindi: Pakistan set a 194-run target for visitors to square the T20I Series
By Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Hosts Pakistan set a-194-run target for New Zealand to level the 5-match T20I series on Monday (April 24, 2023) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi, as the 4th T20I was called off owing to heavy rain and hailstorms in the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Pakistan were leading 2-1 in the series before this tie.Earlier, New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and decided to go for the chase. Pakistan scored 194 in 20 overs. Mohammad Rizwan was topper with 98 runs. Pakistan squad:Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zaman KhanNew Zealand squad:Tom Latham (captain, wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will YoungSchedule & Results:April 14, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 88 runsApril 15, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 38 runsApril 17, 2023: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 4 wicketsApril 20, 2023: Called off duo to hailstorm in Pindi StadiumApril 24, 2023: 5th T20 at Pindi Stadium RawalpindiApril 27, 2023: 1st ODI at Pindi Stadium RawalpindiApril 29, 2023: 2nd ODI at Pindi Stadium RawalpindiMay 3, 2023:3rd ODI at National Stadium KarachiMay 5, 2023: 4th ODI at National Stadium KarachiMay 7, 2023: 5th ODI at National Stadium Karachi
New Zealand make 164 for 5 in 18.5 overs, as rain forces to end the game
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
RAWALPINDI: New Zealand were 164 for 5 in 18.5 overs, as the rain halted the match and ended without any result in the penultimate fixture of the 5-match T20 International Cricket Series on Thursday night. Pakistan made a single change in the playing elevens, as Zaman Khan replaced Naseem Shah.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to field first, as the weather was forecasted rain. Visitor team captain Tom Latham and Cahd Bowes started the New Zealand innings, a skipper three boundaries to Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first over of the match, as he conceded 13 runs in his first over. Imad Wasim gave a breakthrough when Tom caught by Haris Rauf at deep-fine leg boundary, as the total score was 24 in 2.5 overs. Imad got another wicket in his next over of Willy Young, who was clean bold after hitting a four cover region. He added only 6 runs off 8 balls. New Zealand scored 50 for 2 runs in the 6 overs of power-play. Chad Bowes contributed 28 runs off 17 balls.
Visitor lost their 3rd batter on the total of 54 when Daryl Mitchell was stumped by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwam on the bowling of Imad Wasim on his personal score of 3 off 6. Chad Bowes and Mark Champ put 54 runs off 43 balls for 4th wicket that strengthen the visitors’ position. Chad Bowed was caught and bowled by Faheem Ashraf. Bowed played an aggressive innings of 54 runs of 38 balls laced with 7 fours and one six.
Summarized Scorecard:
Venue: Pindi Cricket Stadium
Toss: Pakistan won and elected to bowl first
Man of the Match:
New Zealand (Batting):
Chad Bowed (54 runs, 38 balls, 4x7, 6x1), Mark Champ (71 runs, 42 balls, 4x10, 6x1), Tom Latham (13 runs, 08 balls, 4x3, 6x0),
Pakistan (Bowling)
Imad Wasim (3 for12), Haris Rauf (1 for 35), Faheem Ashraf (1 for 9)
Pakistan (Batting):
New Zealand (Bowling)
Pakistan (Playing XIs):
Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
New Zealand (Playing XIs):
Tom Latham (Captain & Wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Will Young
Live from Pindi Stadium: Pakistan win toss and ask kiwis to bat in Rawalpindi
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to filed first against New Zealand in the penultimate fixture of the 5-match T20 International Cricket Series on Thursday night.
Pakistan (Playing XIs):
Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
New Zealand (Playing XIs):
Tom Latham (Captain & Wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Will Young
Cricket News: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 4 runs in T20I
Iftikhar's explosive half-century in vain as New Zealand claim first win in series
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: Tourist New Zealand cricket team defeated Pakistan by 4 runs in the 3rd T20 international on Monday night at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore, as the Iftikhar Ahmed’s blistering innings went in vain, who scored 60 runs.
It is pertinent to mention here that the previous two matches were won by the hosts at the same venue by 88 runs and 38 runs, respectively and Green Shirts have still upper hand in the series 2-1. Both sides will now travel to Rawalpindi to play the remaining two T20Is of the series scheduled on 20 and 24 April, respectively.
Chasing 164 to win, the home side didn’t have a good start as they lost seven wickets inside 15 overs with 88 runs on the board. Right-handed Iftikhar was joined by left-handed Faheem Ashraf and the pair went on to add 61 runs off just 26 balls.
With 72 runs required from the last five overs at the required run-rate of 14.40, Iftikhar and Faheem took the charge to the Kiwis’ bowlers and collected 16 runs from the 16th over. The 18th over of the innings – the most expensive over of the innings brought 23 runs for the side, where three sixes and a four was struck off Adam Milne’s over as the fast bowler ended-up with match figures of 4-0-37-2.
Only eight runs came off the 19th over of the innings in which the tourists got a prized scalp of Faheem, who got out for 27 off 14 balls, striking two sixes and as many fours.
With 15 runs required in the final over to win the match and two wickets in hand, Iftikhar struck Jimmy Neesham for a six on the first ball and then for a four on the third ball to bring down the equation to five off three balls, but Neesham kept his cool and took Iftikhar’s wicket on the fourth ball and then Haris Rauf off the last ball to give New Zealand a four-run win.
Iftikhar’s innings included six towering sixes and three fours, as he scored 60 off just 24 balls. For the winning team, Neesham took three wickets for 38 in four overs.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, Tom Latham played a captain’s innings as the left-handed opening batter top-scored for his side with a 49-ball 64, which included seven fours and two sixes. Daryl Michell was the other notable contributor with the bat, scoring 33 off 26 balls, hitting two fours and a six. For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf bagged two wickets apiece.
Cricket News: Pakistan and New Zealand to meet today in 3rd T20I
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: The 3rd T20 international will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand on Monday (today) here at Qaddafi Stadium. Green Shirts led by Babar Azam already got a lead of 2-0 in the five-match tie after winning both matches at the same venue.
Pakistan squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan
New Zealand squad:
Tom Latham (captain, wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young
Schedule & Results:
April 14, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 88 runs
April 15, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 38 runs
April 17, 2023: 3rd T20 at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore
April 20, 2023: 4th T20 at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi
April 24, 2023: 5th T20 at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi
April 27, 2023: 1st ODI at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi
April 29, 2023: 2nd ODI at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi
May 3, 2023:3rd ODI at National Stadium Karachi
May 5, 2023: 4th ODI at National Stadium Karachi
May 7, 2023: 5th ODI at National Stadium Karachi
Pakistan beat New Zealand by 38 runs in second T20I: Babar hits ton
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 38 runs in the second T20I of the ongoing five-match series at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore on Saturday night, as the hosts got a 2-0 lead in the series. Babar Azam’s ton (101 not out) and Haris Rauf (4 for 27) were the notable performance by the Pakistani players.
Earlier, Babar won the toss and opted to bat first second time in a row in the series, as the opening batters Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam provided a solid 99-run start to the innings with Rizwan bringing up his 24th half-century in this format off 29 balls, smashing seven fours and a six. He was the first to be dismissed in the 11th over courtesy Daryl Mitchell taking a catch off last match hat-trick bowler Matt Henry.
Henry was well on course to take another hat-trick when he sent Fakhar Zaman back to the hut the very next ball, but was denied the hat-trick by left-handed Saim Ayub who blocked the last ball of the 11th over. But Saim was dismissed in the next over (11.5) without scoring any runs. All-rounder Imad Wasim was dismissed early (2 off 5) with the home side in a spot of bother with the scoreboard reading 105 for four in 12.5 overs.
At that crucial juncture of the innings, skipper and player of the match Babar was joined by Iftikhar Ahmed and the pair went on to score runs at will. The duo added an unbroken 87 runs for the fifth wicket off 43 balls, which included Iftikhar’s unbeaten 33 off 19 balls, hitting one four and three sixes. But the star of the night was Babar, who during the course of the match, not only brought up his third T20I century, but also became the first captain to score three centuries in this format. This was also Babar’s second T20I century at home, with his first century coming against England in Karachi seven months ago.
Almost a packed capacity Lahore crowd thoroughly enjoyed Babar’s strokeplay as the third-ranked ICC T20I batter brought up his half-century in 36 balls, laced with six fours. He went on to score the remaining 51 runs off just 22 balls, and returned undefeated on 101 off 58 balls, striking seven fours and one six. Pakistan posted 192 for 4 in 20 overs on the board.
In return, the Kiwis were chasing 193 to win at the required run-rate of 9.65 were not allowed to score freely. Latham’s opening partner Chad Bowes scored 26 off 24, which included three fours. The fact that the Kiwis managed to score 154 for seven in their allotted 20 overs was largely due to Mark Chapman's unbeaten innings of 65 off 40 balls, hitting four fours and as many sixes.
For Pakistan, right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf once again excelled as he claimed back-to-back four-wicket hauls, taking four wickets and conceding 27 runs from his four overs. In the first T20I, Haris took four wickets for 18 runs in 3.3 overs.
Cricket News: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 88 runs in first T20I
Siam Ayub (47 runs, 28 balls), Fakhar Zaman (47 runs, 34 balls), Haris Rauf (4 for 17), Imad Wasim (2 for 2) top doers
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: Joint efforts of batters and bowlers steered Pakistan to a massive victory against New Zealand by 88 runs in the opening fixture of the five-match series at Qaddafi Cricket Stadium Lahore on Friday night, as the hosts got a 1-0 lead in the series.
Earlier Pakistani captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bat first against New Zealand in the first T20I of the five-match series. Skipper Babar Azam and his deputy Mohammad Rizwan could not impress with the bat and went back to the hut after scoring merely 9 and 8 runs respectively, as the total was just 30 in 4.2 overs.
Left-handed batters Siam Ayub and Fakhar Zaman exhibited some aggregation and put 79 runs for 3rd wicket, as both batters scored 47 runs each off 28 and 34 balls respectively. Saim smashed six boundaries and a couple of sixes while Fakhar hit four fours and two sixes. Pakistan were 100 for 2 in 10.4 overs. Fahim Ashraf (22 runs, 16 balls, 4x1, 6x1), and Imad Wasim (16 runs, 13 balls, 4x2, 6x0) were other major contributors to the Green Shirts’ total.
Kiwi pacer Matt Henry claimed a hat trick after sending three batters, Shadab Kha, Iftikar Ahmed and Shaeen Shah Afridi, back on three sequential balls respectively. Ben Lister got two wickets for 30 runs while Adam Milne (2 for 51), James Neesham (1 for 18), and Ish Sodhi (1 for 34) were other wicket-takers bowlers for visitors.
In response Black Caps all batters were left off the pitch at 94 runs total in 15.3 overs, as they were chasing 183 runs target in 20 overs against the well-skilled bowlers of the home side. Right-arm pacer Haris Rauf dented the batting line of New Zealanders by claiming 4 wickets in 3.3 overs. He conceded merely 17 runs. Imad Wasim supported him by getting two wickets in 1 over.
Kiwi batters, Mark Chapman (34 runs, 27 balls) and skipper Tom Latham (20 runs, 24 balls), did well with the bat, however, the rest of the players failed to face Pakistani bowlers. New Zealand all team bundled out on just 94 runs in 15.3 overs. Haris Rauf (4 for 17) was judged the player of the match.
Summarized Scorecard:
Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first
Player of the Match: Haris Rauf (Pakistan)
Pakistan (Batting) 182 runs all out in 19.5 overs
Siam Ayub (47 runs, 28 balls, 4x6, 6x2), Fakhar Zaman (47 runs, 34 balls, 4x4, 6x2), Faheem Ashraf (22 runs. 16 balls, 4x1, 6x1), Imad Wasim (16 runs, 13 balls, 4x2, 6x0)
New Zealand (Bowling)
Matt Henry (3 for 32), Ben Lister (2 for 30), Adam Milne (2 for 51), James Neesham (1 for 18), Ish Sodhi (1 for 34)
New Zealand (Batting): 94 all out in 15.3 overs
Target 183 runs in 20 overs
Mark Chapman (34 runs, 27 balls, 4x4, 6x1), Tom Latham (20 runs, 24 balls, 4x1, 6x0),
Pakistan (Bowling)
Haris Rauf (4 for 17), Imad Wasim (2 for 2), Shaheen Shah Afridi (1 for 11), Zaman Khan (1 for 12), Faheem Ashraf (1 for 17), Shadab Khan (1 for 28),
Pakistan (Playing XIs):
Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
New Zealand (Playing XIs):
Tom Latham (captain & wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister
Cricket News: Pakistan set 183 runs target for New Zealand in 20 overs
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: Pakistan set 183 runs target for New Zealand in 20 overs in the opening fixture of the five-match series at Qaddafi Cricket Stadium Lahore on Friday night, as the host batters completed 100 runs in 10.4 overs for 2 wickets.
Earlier Pakistani captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bat first against New Zealand in the first T20I of the five-match series.
Summarized Scorecard:
Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first
Player of the Match:
Pakistan (Batting) 182 runs all out in 19.5 overs
Siam Ayub (47 runs, 28 balls, 4x6, 6x2), Fakhar Zaman (47 runs, 34 balls, 4x4, 6x2), Fahim Ashraf (22 runs. 16 balls, 4x1, 6x1), Imad Wasim (16 runs, 13 balls, 4x2, 6x0)
New Zealand (Bowling)
Matt Henry (3 for 32), Ben Lister (2 for 30), Adam Milne (2 for 51), James Neesham (1 for 18), Ish Sodhi (1 for 34)
New Zealand (Batting)
Pakistan (Bowling)
Pakistan (Playing XIs):
Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
New Zealand (Playing XIs):
Tom Latham (captain & wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister
Cricket News: Pakistan complete 100 in 10.4 overs against New Zealand
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first against New Zealand in the first T20I of the five-match series at Qaddafi Cricket Stadium Lahore on Friday night, as hosts batter completed 100 runs in 10.4 overs for 2 wickets.
Summarized Scorecard:
Toss: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first
Player of the Match:
Pakistan (Batting)
Siam Ayub
Fakhar Zaman
New Zealand (Bowling)
Adam Milne (2 for 22)
New Zealand (Batting)
Pakistan (Bowling)
Pakistan (Playing XIs):
Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
New Zealand (Playing XIs):
Tom Latham (captain & wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister
Cricket News: Pakistan-New Zealand T20Is series to start on Friday
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE: The 5-match T20 International matches series between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand will roll into action on Friday night, as the first tie will be played here at Gaddafi Stadium.
Babar Azam-led Pakistan will play their first T20I here since October 2022, when they played England in the lead-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Pakistan have won 10 of the 18 matches here since 2015 and the venue has provided viewers action their money’s worth with 8.13 runs being scored per over.
For the Kiwis, it is an unchartered territory as they have never played a T20I in Pakistan. They will hope to bank on the experience of their recent tour of Karachi when they played two Tests and three One-Day Internationals across December and January and the data available to them about the venue, but playing in Gaddafi Stadium against a full-fledged Pakistan side will be a challenging ask.
Pakistan already have an upper-hand as they have defeated New Zealand four times in the last five matches, the most recent one being a convincing seven-wicket win in the T20 World Cup semi-final in Sydney. That only defeat was during the tri-series in Christchurch, which Pakistan won, just before the World Cup.
Babar Azam: “It is a great feeling to be back in Lahore in Pakistan colours. This promises to be an exciting series as we bring the exciting young talent and the experience of senior players together in this solid squad.
“The T20 World Cup is over a year away and we will look to utilise the next five games to see where we stand. They will also help us gear up for the crucial five-match ODI series that follows as more or less we have the same players in this team and that series will provide us a good opportunity to prepare for the Asia Cup and World Cup later in the year.”
Tom Latham said:
“It is an exciting tour for our side and we know we’re coming up against a quality Pakistan team who will be a huge challenge. We’re obviously missing a few of our senior players, but that’s going to offer opportunities to others and I know the team are really looking forward to testing themselves.
“Conditions are completely different to what we’re used to back home and it’s going to be important that we adapt as quickly as possible. We’ll lean on the experiences we had on the tour here a couple of months ago where we managed to play some good cricket in both the Test and ODI series.
“The HBL PSL has also just been here so we will try and get as much information as we can, but it will ultimately be about adapting as quickly as possible.”
Gaddafi Stadium will stage T20I matches on 14, 15 and 17 April before the action shifts to Rawalpindi where the last two games of the series will be played on 20 and 24 April.
Pakistan squad:
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood and Zaman Khan
New Zealand squad:
Tom Latham (captain, wk), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young
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