New Zealand in Pakistan, 5 T20I Series, 2024 |2nd T20I |4/20/2024 Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Commentary
That is it from this game. New Zealand will look to bounce back but they need a much better performance from all the players than this one. The 3rd game will be played on the 21st of this month at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT). Join us earlier for the build up. Cheers!
Babar Azam says he is happy with how they bowled in the first six overs. Tells they'll experiment and shuffle with the batting line up in the next matches. Shares all the players are match winners and the combination is good right now in their team. Reckons they want to tick a bit of boxes before the World Cup and they'll try their best to prepare well and be upto the mark.
Michael Bracewell says they didn't score a lot as they were slow to adapt to the surface but their bowlers did well to try and defend the score. Tells they'll learn from this game and play well in the next match.
Shaheen Afridi is the Player of the Match. He says it's good to bowl after a long time, he just backed his skills today. Adds it's important to bowl according to the conditions and there was not much swing as well today. Tells with Mohammad Amir back, their bowling unit is strong now.
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It's hard to blame the Kiwi bowlers here. They tried their best as they took 3 wickets but were short of runs to defend. It was an all-round performance by Pakistan. They bowled well first of all. All of their bowlers were excellent and right on the money. Shaheen Afridi ended with three wickets while Mohammad Amir on his long return took two wickets as well. The batters chased down the under-par score with ease. Mohammad Rizwan scored half of the score while others motored around him.
A comfortable win in the end for the home team and they go 1-0 up in the series. The lack of experience was visible as the Kiwis got bowled out under 100 runs. None of them could cross the 20-runs mark and looked vulnerable against some lethal pace bowling of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir.
12.1
4
Michael Bracewell to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR! Finds the gap and ends the game in style! On middle. Rizwan plays the sweep and finds the gap in the mid-wicket region. PAKISTAN WIN BY 7 WICKETS!
END OF OVER 12 | 3 Runs & 0 Wkt | PAK 88/3
11.6
0
Ish Sodhi to Irfan Khan, Yet another dot! Around off. This is guided to point.
11.5
0
Ish Sodhi to Irfan Khan, On middle. This is worked to mid-wicket.
11.4
0
Ish Sodhi to Irfan Khan, Outside off. Khan looks to cut but misses.
11.3
1
Ish Sodhi to Mohammad Rizwan, On middle. This is pushed down to long on for one.
11.2
2
Ish Sodhi to Mohammad Rizwan, Two! Shorter and outside off. This is slapped past cover for two.
11.1
0
Ish Sodhi to Mohammad Rizwan, On off. This is pushed to cover.
END OF OVER 11 | 6 Runs & 0 Wkt | PAK 85/3
10.6
0
Ben Sears to Irfan Khan, Around off. Blocked.
10.5
0
Ben Sears to Irfan Khan, A yorker again on middle. This is jammed out to mid-wicket.
10.4
0
Ben Sears to Irfan Khan, Very full and on off. This is jammed out to cover.
10.3
1
Ben Sears to Mohammad Rizwan, On middle. This is worked through square leg for one.
10.2
1
Ben Sears to Irfan Khan, Around off. Khan looks to defend but it goes off the inside edge on the off side for one.
10.1
4
Ben Sears to Irfan Khan, FOUR! Just the 8 needed! Outside off. This is played late and down to the third man fence. Deft touch.
END OF OVER 10 | 11 Runs & 0 Wkt | PAK 79/3
9.6
1
Ish Sodhi to Irfan Khan, Outside off. This is hit down to long off for one.
9.5
1
Ish Sodhi to Mohammad Rizwan, Around off. This is guided through point for one.