Pakistan had an unlikely hero because it bowled New Zealand out for 92 to win the fifth Twenty20 International by 42 runs Sunday and keep away from a clear sweep within the five-match sequence.
The vacationers’ whole of 134-8 after selecting to bat appeared insufficient because it was their lowest of the sequence after their shedding efforts of 180, 173, 179-7 and 158-5 within the 4 earlier matches.
But, it proved greater than sufficient on a sub-standard pitch at Hagley and New Zealand solely simply surpassed its earlier lowest whole in a T20 International in New Zealand.
Iftikhar Ahmed was the shock hero for Pakistan. The 33-year-old hadn’t bowled in Pakistan’s final eight Twenty20s, hadn’t taken a wicket since 2022 and had solely 4 wickets in 53 matches earlier than Sunday.
But, he thrived on a pitch which gripped and turned as he took three for 11 to play the main function in New Zealand’s downfall. His earlier finest was one for seven.
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Iftikhar dismissed Tim Seifert (19), Matt Henry (1), Ish Sodhi (1), took a catch to take away Will Young (12) and performed an element within the run out of Mark Chapman (1).
“I just read the wicket, it was turning so I just tried to bowl wicket to wicket and that was the key to success,” Iftikhar mentioned by way of captain Shaheen Afridi who interpreted.
“I was prepared for this game and I thought I might bowl today. I’ve been working very hard on my bowling and today was the result. It’s up to the captain, but I’m always available to the team to bowl if necessary.” Pakistan celebrated its win and the avoidance of an unprecedented 5-0 sequence loss. But it nonetheless has some soul-searching to do earlier than the T20 World Cup later this yr within the Caribbean and the United States.
Veterans Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan stay the power of Pakistan’s batting and once more offered the muse of the Pakistan innings on Sunday with the twentieth half-century partnership of their joint careers.
Rizwan scored 184 runs within the sequence at a mean of 46 and Babar 213 runs at 53.34. But, Babar appeared misplaced on a sluggish pitch Sunday and scored solely 13 runs from 24 balls.
The 4-1 loss on this sequence follows Pakistan’s 3-0 loss to Australia in a three-test sequence earlier than it arrived in New Zealand and it has now gained solely one in every of its final 9 T20 sequence.
The pitch for Sunday’s match was a used one at Hagley Oval and Saheen’s resolution to bat on successful the toss was primarily based on his perception it would cease and switch late within the match.
It stopped and turned from the primary over and batting was extraordinarily tough for either side.
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Pakistan handed the 20-year-old Haseebullah Khan a global debut and he was out to solely the third ball of the match. Babar and Rizwan placed on 52 for the second wicket however slowly: Pakistan was 29 for one after the six-over energy play, and 53 for 2 after 10 overs.
Fakhar Zaman made 33 off 15 balls in an innings that gained stature in context. But, after Rizwan was out for 38 there have been few different innings of substance.
New Zealand would have begun with a way of confidence that it wrap up a sequence sweep. But, Rashin Ravindra was out within the second over, Finn Allen made solely 22 and on the finish of the facility play it was 35 for 2.
Tim Seifert fell for 19, Will Young for 12 and Chapman’s run out left New Zealand 54 for 4 with 10.1 overs gone. Glenn Phillip grew to become New Zealand’s most important hope for a restoration, however he managed solely 26 from 22 balls earlier than he was out within the 18th over.
Iftikhar quelled any chance of a late revival.
“The pitch had slowed down a lot but I still felt we bowled quite well,” New Zealand captain Mitch Santner mentioned. “We were pretty happy with the score but we were just outplayed in that second innings.”
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
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