New Zealand emerged victorious for the second time in the five-match T20 series against Pakistan. The home team set a formidable target of 195 runs, and despite Pakistan’s valiant effort, they fell short by 22 runs, culminating in an exhilarating cricket spectacle.
Winning the toss, Pakistan chose to field first, anticipating an early breakthrough. However, New Zealand’s opening duo, Finn Allen and Devon Conway, had other plans.
The pair put up a strong front, amassing a 59-run partnership that laid a solid foundation for New Zealand’s innings. Aamir Jamal managed to provide Pakistan with a breakthrough by dismissing Conway (20, 15b, 3x4s) in the last over of the powerplay, injecting a glimmer of hope for the visitors.
Despite losing skipper Kane Williamson to a tight hamstring, New Zealand continued to build their innings. Williamson’s departure paved the way for Allen to showcase his prowess with the bat.
The right-handed batsman dazzled the crowd with an outstanding half-century, accumulating 74 runs from just 41 balls. His innings featured an impressive array of seven boundaries and five towering sixes, showcasing his ability to take on the opposition.
Allen’s aggressive approach came to an end in the 13th over when Usama Mir delivered a deceptive googly, claiming the wicket and marking Mir’s maiden T20I scalp.
With the seventh batter, Mitchell Santner, contributing a quick 25 runs from 13 balls, including three fours and two sixes, New Zealand concluded their innings at 194-8 in the allotted 20 overs.
Pakistan’s bowling attack faced a stern test, with right-arm pacer Haris Rauf emerging as the most successful bowler, securing a remarkable three-wicket haul in a single over. His fiery spell was complemented by Abbas Afridi, Aamir, and Usama, who each chipped in with a crucial wicket.
Chasing a challenging target of 195, Pakistan found themselves in early trouble, losing the opening pair of Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan within the first two overs.
However, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman orchestrated a remarkable recovery, stitching together an 87-run partnership for the third wicket. The duo displayed resilience and skill, injecting a sense of stability into Pakistan’s innings.
The turning point came in the 10th over when Adam Milne disrupted Fakhar Zaman’s stumps, sending the dynamic batsman back to the pavilion after a blistering 25-ball 50, which included three fours and five towering sixes.
The wickets continued to tumble for Pakistan, with Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan, and Aamir departing quickly, leaving the visitors at 125-6 in 14.3 overs.
Despite the odds, Babar Azam continued his fine form, notching up his 32nd T20I half-century with a composed innings of 66 runs off 43 balls, featuring seven boundaries and two sixes.
His efforts, however, were cut short as he fell victim to Ben Sears, caught by Tim Southee. Pakistan’s captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, tried to keep the team in the game with a quick-fire 22 runs from 13 balls, including one four and two maximums, before succumbing to Milne.
Milne’s impactful four-wicket haul, supported by Sears, Southee, and Sodhi, proved decisive as Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 173, handing New Zealand their second consecutive victory. Finn Allen rightly earned the Player of the Match accolade for his stellar performance.
As the series progresses, the cricketing action is set to intensify with the third T20I scheduled for January 17 at University Oval, Dunedin. The cricketing enthusiasts can anticipate another thrilling encounter, with the first ball expected to be bowled at 0500 PKT and the toss at 0430 PKT.
