Pakistan 134 for 8 (Rizwan 38, Fakhar 33, Southee 2-19, Sodhi 2-22) beat New Zealand 92 (Phillips 26, Allen 22, Iftikhar 3-24, Nawaz 2-18) by 42 runs
After 4 crushing losses, Pakistan had one thing to smile about on the finish of a troublesome tour as they defended 134 to take the ultimate T20I towards New Zealand by 42 runs and preserve the sequence scoreline to 4-1.
New Zealand wrestle from the get-go
New Zealand would have been delighted to maintain Pakistan to 134 however their pleasure was short-lived. Finn Allen began brightly, smashing Shaheen for a 4 round deep midwicket after which going one higher towards Nawaz in the identical area. However, Rachin Ravindra, slotted into this recreation for Daryl Mitchell didn’t get going as he sliced Nawaz to brief third for 1.
Allen struck two extra crisp fours off Shaheen earlier than falling to Zaman Khan, his miscued try taken nicely by debutant Haseebullah Khan diving ahead at mid-on. The New Zealand powerplay ended on 35 for two.
Pakistan apply the spin choke
As soon as it obtained clear that the floor was aiding spin, Shaheen went on an all-out spin squeeze. With the required price climbing, Will Younger tried to interrupt the shackles by seeking to slog sweep Nawaz. His try solely reached so far as Iftikhar at deep backward sq. leg, who accomplished the catch on the second try.
The day went from dangerous to worse for Mark Chapman, who dropped Babar Azam twice, when he was run out for 1 earlier than Tim Seifert’s tough innings was ended by Iftikhar on 19 off 30. He went for a reverse sweep to a straight ball, missed and was trapped proper in entrance, with Pakistan’s evaluation confirming the ball would have smashed into the center pole.
Mir then had Mitchell Santner caught and bowled whereas Iftikhar eliminated Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi in the identical over as New Zealand collapsed from 53 for two to 72 for 8 within the house of 32 balls.
Glenn Phillips tried his finest to take New Zealand nearer however with eight wickets down, it was a bridge too far even for the person in type. Shaheen completed off the sport with two wickets in two balls as Pakistan gained with 2.4 overs to spare.
Mark Chapman dropped Babar Azam twice•Getty Photographs
A powerplay to neglect for Pakistan
Haseebullah Khan had a dream PSL debut final season towards Karachi Kings the place he walloped a 29-ball 50. The identical cannot be mentioned about his T20I debut, which lasted all of three balls and ended with him advancing and getting a vanguard on an ungainly swipe to level. Pakistan took 11 balls to get their innings rolling and obtained their first boundary within the fourth over, courtesy Rizwan, however Babar struggled large time. He was dropped on 1 by Chapman at deep sq. leg and will solely handle 4 off 15 within the powerplay as Pakistan crawled to 29 for 1 after the six overs.
A short revival and one other middle-order collapse
Babar was put down once more by Chapman, this time at long-off earlier than Sodhi put him out of his distress for a 24-ball 13. An innings that Babar will wish to neglect quite shortly ended with him slogging a tossed-up flawed’un straight to Phillips at deep midwicket. A relieved Chapman was the primary to get throughout and provides Phillips an enormous hug.
With Pakistan 53 for two after ten they wanted some impetus to get the innings flowing. That was supplied by Fakhar. He laid into Lockie Ferguson, tonking him for 2 sixes earlier than crashing Sodhi for a 4 and a six the following over. Southee returned and was taken for an additional six by Fakhar, however the bowler had the final chortle. The left-handed batter failed to choose a slower offcutter and will solely mistime his heave to long-off to fall for a 16-ball 33.
Nawaz got here and went earlier than Henry despatched Rizwan packing for a run-ball-38, his swing throughout the road solely travelling so far as deep sq. leg. Iftikhar then clubbed Henry straight to mid-off as Pakistan misplaced 4 for 16 in 22 balls.
Abbas Afridi got here in at No. 9 and hammered two sixes to take Pakistan previous the 130-mark. For New Zealand, Southee, Henry, Ferguson and Sodhi all managed two wickets apiece.
Ashish Pant is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo
