Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 38 runs in the second match of the five-match T20I series to take a two-nil lead in the series.
Chasing 193 runs, the New Zealand team could score only 154 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Mark Chapman remained unbeaten with 65 runs, while Pakistan’s Haris Rauf once again bowled well and dismissed four players.
Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat first at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, which proved correct, and thanks to his brilliant century, Pakistan scored 192 runs for four wickets in 20 overs. Babar Azam remained not out with 101 runs. Mohammad Rizwan scored 50 runs and Iftikhar Ahmed scored 33 runs. Matt Henry got two wickets for New Zealand team.
New Zealand’s innings
Tom Latham and Chad Boyce started the innings cautiously as New Zealand chased down 193 runs. On the implied score of 44, Tom scored 19 runs and was LBW off Shadab Khan.
In the next over, Imad Wasim also bowled Chad Boyce. He scored only 26 runs.
Haris Rauf, who took four wickets in the first match, continued to cause trouble for New Zealand’s middle order today. They sent Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, and Rachin Ravindra to the pavilion.
The seventh out was Cole Maconi, who was bowled by Zaman Khan.
The only successful batsman for the Black Caps was Mark Chapman, who scored 65 runs off 40 balls and remained not out. His inning included four sixes and four fours.
On behalf of Pakistan, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan started the innings well and took revenge on the New Zealand bowlers for getting out early in the previous match.
A partnership of 99 runs was established between the two players. After which Rizwan scored 50 runs and was caught out by Matt Henry.
Henry, who bowled brilliantly in the previous match and made e a hat-trick, looked in full form today and bowled the in-form batsman Fakhar Zaman on the very next ball after Mohammad Rizwan.
The next over also did not prove good for Pakistan and Saeem Ayub also returned to the pavilion for zero. He was dismissed by Rachan Ravindra.
Imad Wasim was caught by Tom Latham off James Neesham for just two runs. The Pakistani team was under pressure after the wickets of the top players fell.
But at the other end, Babar Azam stood like a rock and was well supported by Iftikhar Ahmed, who turned the match in their favour.
Babar Azam took on the Kiwi bowlers with open arms and hit good boundaries. He completed his century in 58 balls, which included 11 fours and three sixes.
A partnership of 87 runs was also formed between Babar and Iftikhar Ahmed. Iftikhar Ahmed scored 33 runs off 19 balls (three sixes and one four) and remained not out.
