Sports Bulletin Report
Christchurch (New Zealand):-Pakistan register second back-to-back victory in the ongoing Tri-Nation cricket series after thrashing hosts New Zealand by 6 wickets, as blistering Babar Azam innings of 79 not out (53 balls) looked enough to reach the target at Hagley Oval cricket ground Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday night. It is pertinent to mention here that Green Shirts had defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs last Friday at the same venue.
Pakistan opened their innings with skipper Babar Azam and wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan to get the target of 148 runs. Mohammad Rizwan, who had earned man of the match award a day before against Bangladesh by scoring 78 runs not out in an inning, tried his best to settle his feet on the pitch but he could score only 4 runs after wasting 12 deliveries on the bowling of Tim Southee and was judged LBW. Babar Azam was in nice touch and played strokes all sides of the ground, as he faced 53 balls and hit 10 boundaries. Bowling allrounder Shahdab Khan scored 34 runs in 22 balls and aggregated 61 runs for the 3rd wicket partnership with skipper Babar Azam. Pakistan achieved their target on the 2nd ball of the penultimate over of the match.
Earlier, Black Caps captain Kane Williamson decided to defend the target against Green Shirts, who had defeated Bangladesh by 21 runs a day back at the same venue, at home ground. Three small +30 runs innings, Devon Conway (36), Mark Chapman (32) and Williamson (31), helped Kiwis to get a total of 147 runs in 20 overs after losing their 8 batters. Phillips contributed 18 runs.
At one stage, hosts batters were in commanding position and they were 130 for 3 in 17 overs, as it was expected the Black Caps would post over 160 runs target for the tourist team. On this occasion Shahnawaz Dahani got the important wicket of Phillips on the very first ball of 18th over, as the batter was caught by Asif Ali at midwicket boundary. Later, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim did not allow them to hit big boundaries. They conceded just 17 runs in the last three overs and sent 5 batters back to hut.
Haris Rauf claimed three wickets while Mohammad Wasim trapped two kiwi batters after giving 28 and 20 runs respectively. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (2 for44) and lanky pacer Shahnawaz Dahani (1 for 22) were other successful bowlers.
Summarized Scorecard (Pakistan vs New Zealand)
Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Toss: New Zealand, elected to bat first
New Zealand batting (147 for 8 in 20 overs):
Devon Conway c Haider Ali b Mohammad Nawaz 36 (35 balls, 4X2, 6X2)
Kane Williamson b Mohammad Nawaz 31 (30 balls, 4X1)
Glenn Phillips c Asif Ali b Shahnawaz Dahani 18 (17 balls, 4X1)
Mark Chapman c Mohammad Wasim b Haris Rauf 32 (16 balls, 4X3, 6X2)
Pakistan Bowling:
Haris Rauf (3 for 28), Shahnawaz Dahani (1 for 22), Mohammad Wasim (2 for 20), Mohammad Nawaz (2 for 44)
Pakistan Batting (Target 147 runs in 20 overs):
Babar Azam not out 79 (balls 53, 4X10), Shadab Khan 34 (balls 22, 4X2, 6X2), Mohammad Nawaz 16(balls 19, 4X2)
New Zealand Bowling:
Trent Boult (1 for 22), Tim Southee (1 for 24), Blair Tickner (2 for 42)
Pakistan Playing XIs:
Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam (c), Shan Masood, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shahnawaz Dahani
New Zealand Playing XIs:
Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Blair Tickner
