11.45 AM Thursday, 18 April 2024

Advanced

Pakistan vs New Zealand 2nd T20 in Dubai: NZ level series despite Afridi assault

New Zealand batsman Anton Devcich is bowled as Pakistani wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed looks on during the second T20 international at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on December 5, 2014. (AFP)

Pakistan's Twenty20 cricket captain Shahid Afridi (right) and his New Zealand counterpart Kane Williamson (with the Twenty20 series trophy in Dubai. (AFP)

Published Friday, December 05, 2014

By Cricket Correspondent

New Zealand survived Shahid Afridi’s late onslaught to beat Pakistan by 17 runs in the second and final Twenty20 match to level the series 1-1 on Friday.

Captain Afridi hit three massive sixes as he blasted 28 off 11 balls but he fell to the final ball of the 18th over and Pakistan lasted five more deliveries before being bowled out for 127.

Ahmed Shehzad top-scored with 33 but Pakistan never really recovered from slumping to 24 for three.

Jimmy Neesham claimed three for 25, including the prize wicket of Afridi, while Kyle Mills returned three for 26.

Put into bat, New Zealand got off to a strong start with skipper Kane Williamson (32) dominating a 49-run opening partnership with Anton Devcich (21).

Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez triggered a collapse when he breached Devcich’s defence with a quicker delivery before Afridi struck twice to peg back the Kiwis.

Afridi trapped Dean Brownlie leg before for a duck with a delivery that TV replays suggested would have missed the leg stump.

The leg-spinner then clean bowled Williamson as the Kiwis, cruising at 49 for nought in the seventh over, slid to 58 for three.

Tom Latham contributed 26 while Luke Ronchi (31) hit Afridi for two successive sixes in a 19-ball cameo to help New Zealand chalk up a competitive 144 for eight.

Level

New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 17 runs in the second T20 International in Dubai on Friday night to level the series 1-1.

Pakistan needing 145 to win lost wickets at regular intervals after some sensational bowling performance from the Kiwi bowlers.

James Neesham and Kyle Mills claimed three wickets each while Anton Devcich took two as Pakistan were bowled out for 127 in 18.5 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad top scored with 33 while skipper Shahid Afridi offered some hopes scoring a gritty 28 which included three sixes at the end of the innings.

Earlier, New Zealand scored 144 for eight in 20 overs after put in to bat.

Luke Ronchi top scored with a 19-ball 31 while Tom Latham hit 26.

Anton Devcich (21) and Kane Williamson (32) shared 49 runs for the opening wicket to give New Zealand a good start before Pakistan's spinners turned it around with some quick wickets.

Pakistan innings

The last wicket of Pakistan falls and New Zealand win the game to level the series. Pak 127 all out in 18.5 overs.

Sohail Tanvir c Devcich b Mills 11 (15m 6b 2x4 0x6)

Umar Gul attempts a big one but can't get the distance as he offers a simple catch to Taylor. Pak 122-9 in 18.3 overs.

Umar Gul c Taylor b Mills 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan lose the big wicket of Afridi. Some confusion in the middle but Afridi has to go as umpire raises his finger. Pak 121-8 in 18 overs.

Shahid Afridi c Ronchi b Neesham 28 (11b 1x4 3x6)

Pakistan lose Anwar Ali as Williamson takes a fine catch in the deep off Mills bowling. Pak 104-7 in 16.5 overs.

Anwar Ali c Williamson b Mills 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

The fall of Akmal's wicket can make a huge impact on Pakistan. But with Afridi still around Pakistan still hold the aces. Pak 97-6 in 15.5 overs.

Umar Akmal b Neesham 11 (14b 1x4 0x6)

Two sixes brings a huge cheer from the spectators. Afridi is the limelight for the moment as he is looking to change the equations. Pak 91-5 in 15 overs.

Vettori strikes as he removes Shehzad. This puts Pakistan on trouble. That brings Afridi in and he along with Umar Akmal can still keep the Pakistan in the reckoning. Pak 74-5 in 14.1 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad b Vettori 33 (36b 1x4 0x6)

When the partnership was looking good Nasim departs offering a striaght forward catch to Brownlie. Pak 64-4 in 11.4 overs.

Saad Nasim c Brownlie b Neesham 19 (21b 0x4 1x6)

Pakistan need 83 from 54 balls. Shehzad batting on 26 while Nasim on 18. Partnership reaches 38. Pak 62-3 in 11 overs.

The required runrate is 8.30 as Pakistan need 108 runs from 78 balls. Pak 37-3 in 7 overs.

Pakistan look to be slipping into deep trouble as they lose another wicket. Sohail departs offering a simple catch to Latham. Pak 24-3 in 4.4 overs.

Haris Sohail c Latham b Henry 3 (9, 0x4, 0x6)

Devcich takes another wicket as Hafeez departs. He takes a fine catch off his own bowling. Pak 18-2 in 2.3 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez c & b Devcich 9 (8b 2x4 0x6)

A brilliant over for Pakistan as three boundaries and four legbyes mean Pakistan reach a fine 15-1 in 2 overs.

Setback for Pakistan very early as Devcich bags the wicket of Sarfraz, who is trapped in front. Pak 2-1 in 0.4 overs.

Sarfraz Ahmed lbw b Devcich 1 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan begin with Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad as spinner Devcich bowls for New Zealand.

New Zealand innings

New Zealand scored 144 for eight in 20 overs after put in to bat in the second T20 International in Dubai.

Luke Ronchi top scored with a 19-ball 31 while Tom Latham hit 26.

Earlier, Anton Devcich (21) and Kane Williamson (32) shared 49 runs for the opening wicket to give New Zealand a good start before Pakistan's spinners turned it around with some quick wickets.

Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul picked two wickets each.

New Zealand losing too many wickets in the end as McCullum is run out. NZ 136-8 in 19.1 overs.

Natan McCullum run out 4 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Vettori does not disturb the scoreboard as he walks back out for a duck. Gul picks his second. NZ 127-7 in 18.3 overs.

Daniel Vettori b Umar Gul 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

New Zealand lose another as Ronchi offers a simple catch to Shehzad. NZ 127-6 in 18 overs.

Luke Ronchi c Ahmed Shehzad b Sohail Tanvir 31 (19b 1x4 2x6)

Gul earns his first wicket as he removes Latham. He was looking dangerous batting on 26. NZ 116-5 in 16.4 overs.

Tom Latham c Anwar Ali b Umar Gul 26 (22b 3x4 0x6)

Afridi finishes his spell but has a terrible final over where Ronchi smashes him for two successive sixes as he gives away 33 runs from his four overs. NZ 113-4 in 16 overs.

New Zealand are 93 for four in 15 overs. Natham batting on 25.

Huge celebrations as New Zealand lose another wicket. Hasan traps Ross Taylor in the front to claim his first wicket tonight. The Kiwis need a big partnership. NZ 78-4 in 12.5 overs.

Ross Taylor lbw b Raza Hasan 7 (13b 0x4 0x6)

Latham brings the hope back again for the Kiwis slamming two boundaries to get 14 runs from Hafeez over. NZ 76-3 in 12 overs.

Afridi is turning things around completely as he claims another wicket. He has bowled a superb spell of two overs, six runs and two wickets so far. NZ 58-3 in 10 overs.

Kane Williamson b Shahid Afridi 32 (31b 3x4 1x6)

Afridi gets the crowd roaring as he claims the wicket in his first over. That's two quick blows for the Kiwis. Can this change the momentum? NZ 50-2 in 7.3 overs.

Dean Brownlie lbw b Shahid Afridi 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Hafeez does the trick as he bowls Devcich to give Pakistan its first wicket. NZ 49-1 in 7 overs.

Anton Devcich b Mohammad Hafeez 21 (20b 3x4 0x6)

Williamson reaches 23 while Devcich is on 19. NZ 43-0 in 6 overs.

New Zealand are 32 for no loss in 5 overs.

The pacers doing a good job despite that one over domination from Williamson and a late boundary from Devcich. NZ 24-0 in 4 overs.

Williamson gets a fine boundary and a big six to give the Kiwis the much needed start. NZ 15-3 in 3 overs.

Tanvir contitnues to keep it tight as he gives away only two runs. The Kiwi openers are struggling to find the gaps. NZ 3-0 in 2 overs.

A fine opening spell from Anwar Ali as he concedes just a single. That's the right start Pakistan was looking for. NZ 1-0 in 1 over.

The national anthems are played. Pakistan fielders take the field as Anwar Ali opens the spell. Kane Williamson and Anton Devcich prepares to bat for the Black Caps.

PLAYING XI:

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Haris Sohail, Shahid Afridi, Saad Nasim, Anwar Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Raza Hasan, Umar Gul

New Zealand: Kane Williamson, Anton Devcich, Dean Brownlie, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi, James Neesham, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Matt Henry

Looks like the dew might be a big factor. Pakistan skipper Afridi win toss and put New Zealand to bat first. Afridi says he is confident of his batsmen who can chase any target.

Pakistan have registered 50 T20 victories after they won the last night 's match.

PREVIEW

Pakistan will be looking to continue their winning ways when they face New Zealand in the second and final Twenty20 international at Dubai International Stadium on Friday night.

Another sell-out crowd is expected at Dubai Sports City especially since Shahid Afridi-led Pakistan produced a clinical performance in the first match on Thursday to win by seven wickets.

Tickets are still available for the second match of the Twenty20 international series starting at 8pm on Friday night.

Tickets are also still available for Monday’s day-night one-day international that begins at 3pm.

Luke Ronchi, the New Zealand wicketkeeper, said his opposite number Sarfraz Ahmed, who finished unbeaten on 76, was the key factor in Pakistan's win in the opening T20 match.

"Turning point was Sarfraz's innings. He batted well throughout and that was the difference," said Ronchi.

However, he dismissed as just another bad day in office.

"Last 18 months to two years, New Zealand cricket in general has been going up and up. You are going to play some bad games. A few things would have loved to do better but mentality of everyone is really on a high. Tomorrow night hopefully it will be another good game," said Ronchi at the post-match press conference.

Opener Sarfraz Ahmed batted throughout the innings making a career best 76 not out to guide Pakistan to a comfortable seven-wicket win.

Chasing a modest 136-run target, Pakistan were lifted by Ahmed's 64-ball innings which had eight fours and two sixes as they completed the win in 19.1 overs for a 1-0 lead.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said Sarfraz’s contribution was great to see and a reflection of the positive way he has been batting this year.

"I think last seven or eight months he has come out of his shell and played his own game. He is a strokemaker and he likes to play his shots. When he is free and has less pressure on him, I feel he plays a lot better than anyone else," said Waqar.

"He has been given licence to play natural game and he has been in very good nick," he added.

Teams:

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Awais Zia, Anwar Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Raza Hasan, Saad Nasim, Sarfraz Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Dean Brownlie, Anton Devcich, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.

The page was last updated on: 12 January 2016 03:45