Cricket - T20i
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
Pakistan storm into final of the ICC T20 World Cup, beat Black Caps by 7 wickets
Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD: Baber Elevens have confirmed their berths for the final after defeating New Zealand by 7 wickets in the first semifinal of the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2022 at Sydney Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
New Zealand’s skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and offered to opposite Captain Babar Azam for bowling first. Pakistani bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled brilliantly and took the first wicket in the third ball of the match.
While Kiwis set 153 runs on the scoreboard. Middle Order Batter Daryl Mitchell scored 53 runs and faced 35 balls. Captain Kane Williamson added 46 runs in team total for 42 deliveries and wicket keeper Batter Devon Conway scored 21 runs in 20 balls. Pakistani bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi got 2 wickets for 24 runs in his 4 overs. Mohammad Nawaz took a single wicket and conceded 12 runs in 2 overs.
In reply Pakistan chased 153 runs target in the last over with 7 wickets in hand. Pakistani opener Muhammad Rizwan scored 57 runs in 43 balls. Babar Azam scored 53 runs and faced 42 deliveries while Mohammad Haris scored 30 runs.
Kiwi Bowler Trent Boult sent out 2 batters for the pavilion and conceded 33 runs. Mitchell Santner took 1 wicket for 26 runs
Summarized Scorecard
New Zealand Bating: - (152/4)
Daryl Mitchell 53 runs in35 balls (3 four and 1 six), Kane Williamson 46 in 42balls (1 four and 1 six), Devon Conway 21 runs in 20 balls (3 four)
Pakistan Bowling:
Shaheen Shah Afridi 2 for 24, Mohammad Nawaz 1 for 12
Pakistan Batting: - (153/3)
Mohammad Rizwan 57 runs in 43 balls (5 four), Babar Azam scored 53 runs in42 balls (7 four), Mohammad Haris 30 runs in26 balls (2 four and 1 six)
New Zealand Bowling:
Trent Boult 2 for 33, Mitchell Santner 1 for 26
Toss: - New Zealand
Man of the Match: - Mohammad Rizwan
ICC T20 World Cup: Pakistan storm into semifinal
Sports Bulletin Report
Adelaide, Australia: Pakistan stormed into the semifinal of the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2022 after thrashing Bangladesh by 5 wickets in their last Group B fixture at Adelaide cricket stadium Australia on Sunday. Green Shirts achieved their target of 128 runs after losing five batters, as 9 balls were spare.
After the Netherlands shocked South Africa by 13 runs in the earlier fixture to turn Pakistan versus Bangladesh into a winner takes all match, Shaheen recorded figures of 4-0-22-4 as Bangladesh were limited to 127 for eight.
Mohammad Rizwan (32), Mohammad Haris (31), Babar Azam (25) and Shan Masood (24 not out) then made even contributions as Pakistan romped to victory with 11 balls to spare.
The victory means Pakistan will join India in the semi-finals from Group-2 with the table-topper to meet England and No.2 side to take on New Zealand for places in the final. However, Group-2 standings will be confirmed following the India versus Zimbabwe match, which will be the final game of the Super-12 fixtures.
For Pakistan, this was the second successive time they have qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semifinals after having missed out in the 2014 (in Bangladesh) and 2016 (in India) editions. This is also the sixth time overall in eight tournaments Pakistan have reached the last four, winning the 2009 event in England and finishing runners-up in South Africa in 2007.
The Adelaide Oval also became a happy venue for Pakistan on 6 November 2022 after they had lost to Australia in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 quarterfinal match at the same venue seven years ago.
Coincidently, the passage to the semifinals for the 2022 T20 World Cup is pretty similar to the 1992 World Cup when Pakistan had to win all remaining matches and also hope for some results to go in their favour so that they could progress to the last four.
Thirty years later, Pakistan lost to India and Zimbabwe in last-ball finishes, before bouncing back to beat the Netherlands, South Africa and Bangladesh. Parallel to that, the Dutch caused one of the biggest upsets of the tournament when they knocked-out South Africa, leaving Pakistan a victory over Bangladesh to continue their march in the event.
Scores in brief
Match 41 – Pakistan beat Bangladesh by five wickets
Bangladesh 127-8, 20 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 54, Afif Hossain 24 not out; Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-22, Shadab Khan 2-30)
Pakistan 128-5, 18.1 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 32, Mohammad Haris 31, Babar Azam 25, Shan Masood 24 not out)
Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan (Playing XI):
ohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi
Bangladesh (Playing XI):
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan(w), Mosaddek Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nasum Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman
Haris approved as replacement for Zaman in the Pakistan squad
Sports Bulletin Report
Dubai (UAE): The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 has approved Mohammad Haris as a replacement for Fakhar Zaman in the Pakistan squad.
Haris was named as a replacement after Zaman was ruled out after sustaining a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury to his right knee.
The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad.
The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 consists of Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager - Cricket (Chair); Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events; Peter Roach, Cricket Australia, Shane Doyle, Men’s T20 World Cup Local Organising Committee; Shaun Pollock (Independent) and Ian Bishop (Independent).
Naib approved as replacement for Zazai in the Afghanistan squad
Sports Bulletin Report
Melbourne (AUS): The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 has approved Gulbadin Naib as a replacement for Hazratullah Zazai in the Afghanistan squad.
Naib who is a travelling reserve was named as a replacement after Zazai was ruled out due to an abdominal muscle strain.
The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad.
The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 consists of Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager - Cricket (Chair); Chris Tetley, ICC Head of Events; Peter Roach, Cricket Australia, Shane Doyle, Men’s T20 World Cup Local Organising Committee; Shaun Pollock (Independent) and Ian Bishop (Independent).
T20 World Cup: Zimbabwe run-over Green Shirts by one-run
Sports Bulletin Report
Perth (AUS): Zimbabwe recorded only their second victory over Pakistan in 18 T20Is, first in a World Cup, when they won a crucial Group 2 Super-12 fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 by one-run here on Thursday.
Needing 11 runs in the final over, Pakistan scored eight runs off the first three balls but managed only one in the next three balls to finish at 129 for eight in reply to Zimbabwe’s 130 for eight.
The turning point in the last over was the dismissal of Mohammad Nawaz (22) on the penultimate ball when he was caught at mid-off off Brad Evans. Shaheen Shah Afridi was able to connect the last delivery of the innings, but his effort was not enough to secure two runs that were needed for a Super Over as he was run-out by a distance despite a fumble by wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva.
The result has left Pakistan winless after two matches, while India and South Africa have four and three points, respectively from as many matches. This makes Pakistan’s passage to the semifinals extremely difficult as even wins against The Netherlands (30 October in Perth), South Africa (3 November in Sydney) and Bangladesh (6 November in Adelaide) will not absolutely guarantee them a place in the last four.
India’s remaining matches are against South Africa (30 October), Bangladesh (2 November) and Zimbabwe (6 November), while South Africa, after their 30 October and 3 November matches against India and Pakistan, respectively will play their last match against The Netherlands on 6 November.
Pakistan, in their pursuit of the 131 runs target and despite losing Babar Azam (4), Mohammad Rizwan (14), Iftikhar Ahmed (5), Shadab Khan (17), Haider Ali (0) and Shan Masood (44), needed 37 runs from 29 balls. Though they were able to score 18 runs through boundaries (3x4, 1x6), the remaining 25 balls yielded only 17 runs, which in the end made all the difference between winning and losing.
Shan top-scored with a 38-ball 44 with three fours, while Nawaz’s 18-ball 22 included a four and a six. Mohammad Wasim finished with a 13-ball 12 not out with two fours.
For Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza picked up three wickets for 25 runs to walk away with the player of the match award. Brad Evans bagged two wickets for 25 runs.
Earlier, Zimbabwe, electing to bat after winning the toss, were restricted to 130 for eight following a brisk 42-run first wicket stand in five overs. Haris Rauf accounted for Craig Ervine (19) and Mohammad Wasim dismissed Wessly Madhevere (17) as Zimbabwe slipped to 43 for two in the space of three balls before Pakistan picked up four wickets in six balls as Zimbabwe slipped from 95 for three to 95 for seven.
At that stage, Ryan Burl (10 not out) and Brad Evans (19) put on 31 priceless runs for the eighth wicket to help Zimbabwe reach 130 for eight. Sean Williams was the batter who provided some resistance in the middle-order when he scored a 28-ball 31 before Shadab bowled him.
For Pakistan, 21-year-old Wasim, who replaced Asif Ali in the playing eleven, produced his career-best figures of four for 24, while Shadab picked up three for 23.
Scores in brief
Match 24 – Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by one-run
Zimbabwe 130-8, 20 overs (Sean Williams 31, Mohammad Wasim 4-24, Shadab Khan 3-23)
Pakistan 129-8, 20 overs (Shan Masood 44, Mohammad Nawaz 22, Shadab Khan 17, Mohammad Rizwan 14, Mohammad Wasim 12 not out; Sikandar Raza 3-25, Brad Evans 2-25)
Pakistan’s next match – vs The Netherlands, Sunday, 30 October (12pm PKT)
Left-handed batter Shan Masood likely to miss match against India
Sports Bulletin Report
Melbourne (AUS): Pakistan's left-handed batter Shan Masood was struck on the right hand side of his head during a practice session at the MCG on Friday and officials took no risk with the 33-year-old as they took him straight to hospital for observation.
The incident means Masood's place in Pakistan's XI for their T20 World Cup opener against India on Sunday is in doubt, pending tests, with fellow leftie Fakhar Zaman in contention to replace him.
The latest update overnight from the PCB team in Australia is that Masood’s neurological observations are normal. The CT scan revealed a superficial bruising in the area where he struck, but he is currently asymptomatic. The batter will undergo a concussion re-test tomorrow.
Masood was likely to come in after star duo Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan and bat at No.3 for Pakistan during the T20 World Cup given he appeared in this position for much of the recent tri-series in New Zealand.
The left-hander only managed 64 runs from four hits during the matches against Bangladesh and the Kiwis, but has been the preferred choice for that crucial top-order spot for Pakistan in recent times.
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