| 0.0 : ... MATCH DAY ... |
| Hello and a warm welcome to game number 19 of the ICC Menâs T20 World Cup, 2021. In this game, Pakistan will be locking horns against New Zealand. Pakistan are coming into this game after a mighty victory against their neighbours India, whereas New Zealand will be kick-starting their campaign against a tough looking Pakistan side. |
| Pakistan side surely has the winning momentum with them coming into this game. They have broken their jinx against India in the World Cup format and it couldnât have been any better. The last game started off with some brutal pace bowling by Shaheen Afridi, who torn apart the opening pair and the rest of the bowlers chipped in as well. Then the pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan stole the show with the bat for the side. Both players knocked half-centuries and made sure to get those crucial |
| On the other hand, New Zealand is coming into this game hunting for their winning momentum. Also, the Kiwis have struggled in such UAE conditions, they will hope the stat changes in their favour this time around as they do well in ICC events. During the warm-up games, New Zealand could not get a win under their belly, they suffered consecutive defeats, the first one against Australia followed by one against England. Their batters need to up their game, they could not deliver their potential in t |
| Update - A huge blow for New Zealand. It is being said that Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup. But, New Zealand do have an option in Adam Milne, who can replace him for the future fixtures. Although, it will be subject to ICC approval. |
| TOSS - Both the skippers stride out to the middle for an all-important toss. The coin goes up and lands in favour of Pakistan. They have opted to BOWL first. |
| Pakistan (Unchanged playing XI) - Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi. |
| New Zealand (Playing XI) - Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (C), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Tim Seifert (WK), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult. |
| The Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam says that they will bowl first and look to take early wickets to put pressure on the opposition and also due to the dew factor. Adds that the last match was a good game but they need to keep up the momentum. Says that the boys are in good shape and will look to adapt to conditions here. Informs that they are going with the same playing XI. |
| Kane Williamson, the New Zealand skipper, is up for a chat. He says, there is a fantastic crowd, and good energy in the ground. Adds, they will hope to commit to the plan and hope they adapt quickly to the conditions, as all three venues are completely different. |
| Mohammad Hafeez is in for a chat. He says that definitely the last match was a good one and it got them prepared for the whole tournament. Adds that they have their focus on the next game and they are mentally and physically ready for the match. Mentions that knowing the conditions does have slight advantage but its about adjusting and applying oneself. Mentions that now they are moving to a new venue and they will have to assess the conditions in Sharjah as they are playing over there after t |
| PITCH REPORT - It is a typical Sharjah pitch and it is the surface that favours spin the most. The pace bowlers will have to rely on their variations and the batters will look to take advantage of the shorter boundaries here. There might be a bit of dew later on in the evening. |
| The two teams are out in the middle for their respective national anthems. It's going to be New Zealand's national anthem first, followed by the national anthem of Pakistan . |
| The umpires are out in the middle as the Pakistan team can be seen in a huddle before taking the field. Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell, the New Zealand openers stride out to the middle as well. The players are seen taking the knee to show their stand against racism and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Shaheen Afridi to start proceedings with the ball. Let's play... |
| 0.1 : Shaheen Afridi to Martin Guptill, Afridi hurls a full-length ball, around off. The ball swings in a bit. Guptill hangs back and plays it back to the bowler. A fiery start by Afridi. |
| 0.2 : Shaheen Afridi to Martin Guptill, Good-length ball, outside off. Guptill stays back and lets it go to the keeper. The fans are chanting "Afridi" on every ball, as he steams in. |
| 0.3 : Shaheen Afridi to Martin Guptill, Length ball, on off. Guptill gets his bottom hand into play and whips it towards mid on. The fielder there stops the ball easily. |
| 0.4 : Shaheen Afridi to Martin Guptill, Four dots on the trot! Afridi has been brilliant. Length and around off. Guptill hangs back and defends it out. |
| 0.5 : Shaheen Afridi to Martin Guptill, Make it 5! Afridi fires in a yorker, on the money. Guptill stays inside the crease and digs it towards cover. Will Afridi start with a maiden over? |
| 0.6 : Shaheen Afridi to Martin Guptill, Yes, he does. A maiden over for Shaheen Afridi. Length ball, outside off. Guptill stays back and looks to chase it away but misses. The ball zips past the outside edge. Rather than the bowler, it looks like the crowd put in an appeal and the bowler later joined in. It is a wonderful atmosphere, but the umpire remains unmoved. |
| 1.1 : Imad Wasim to Daryl Mitchell, Tossed up, full and on off. Daryl Mitchell defends it to cover. |
| 0.6 : It's going to be spin from the other end as Imad Wasim comes on to bowl. |
| 1.2 : Imad Wasim to Daryl Mitchell, Daryl Mitchell and New Zealand are off the mark! Full and on off. Mitchell steps forward and works it towards long on for a single. |
| 1.3 : Imad Wasim to Martin Guptill, A dot now! Quicker. Full and on off. Guptill leans in and pushes it to cover. |
| 1.4 : Imad Wasim to Martin Guptill, Martin Guptill opens his account now. Flatter and around off. Guptill opens the face of the bat and guides it towards short third man. The batters cross after a bit of a hesitation from Guptill. |
| 1.5 : Imad Wasim to Daryl Mitchell, On the pads, flicked to mid-wicket for another single. |
| 1.6 : Imad Wasim to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Nicely cut away. Guptill gets the first boundary of the innings. Short and outside off. Guptill rocks on the back foot and cuts it through point. The ball races away to the boundary. 7 runs coming off the over, a good one for New Zealand. |
| 2.1 : Shaheen Afridi to Daryl Mitchell, Afridi steams in and serves a length ball, on off. Mitchell blocks it back to the bowler watchfully. |
| 2.2 : Shaheen Afridi to Daryl Mitchell, First runs coming off Afridi's spell. A length ball, on the pads. Mitchell flicks it to deep square leg. The batters come back for the second run comfortably. |
| 2.3 : Shaheen Afridi to Daryl Mitchell, Fuller and around off. Mitchell pushes it towards mid off and rotates the strike. |
| 2.4 : Shaheen Afridi to Martin Guptill, Another single this time! Length and on the pads. Guptill clips it towards square leg and gets across for a quick single. |
| 2.5 : Shaheen Afridi to Daryl Mitchell, FOUR! Mitchell gets his first boundary of the game now. Some width offered and Mitchell gets on top of this one. Short and outside off. Mitchell hangs back and cuts it through cover for a boundary. |
| 2.6 : Shaheen Afridi to Daryl Mitchell, Nice delivery to end the over! Full and on the pads. Mitchell stays inside the crease and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball hits the toe and goes back to the bowler. 8 runs coming off this one. |
| 3.1 : Imad Wasim to Martin Guptill, Flatter and short, outside off. Guptill cuts it to cover but finds the fielder. |
| 3.2 : Imad Wasim to Martin Guptill, Floated, full and on the pads. Guptill clips it to square leg. He was looking for a single, but the fielder was quick to collect the ball. |
| 3.3 : Imad Wasim to Martin Guptill, Tossed up, around off. Guptill defends it back to the bowler. |
| 3.4 : Imad Wasim to Martin Guptill, Full, around middle and leg. Guptill flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single. |
| 3.5 : Imad Wasim to Daryl Mitchell, Flatter and around off. Mitchell works it towards long on for another single. |
| 3.6 : Imad Wasim to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Nicely played. Guptill manages to sneak a boundary at the very last ball of the over. Tossed up, around off. Guptill goes back and punches it through cover-point. The ball beats the man and races away to the boundary. |
| 4.1 : Hasan Ali to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! BANG! Daryl Mitchell picks it up nicely. Full-length ball, on off. Mitchell stands tall, gets under it and smokes it over the long on fence for a biggie. |
| 0.0 : Here comes the first change in bowling. Hasan Ali comes on to bowl. |
| 4.2 : Hasan Ali to Daryl Mitchell, Slightly short, outside off. Mitchell looks to pull it away but does not connect well. The ball takes the inner half and goes towards mid on. The batters cross for a single. |
| 4.3 : Hasan Ali to Martin Guptill, Guptill gets lucky this time! It was a slower ball. Full and outside off. Guptill makes room and looks to push it to the off side. The ball takes the inside edge and goes towards fine leg. They take a single. |
| 4.4 : Hasan Ali to Daryl Mitchell, Back of a length, on off. Mitchell looks to pull it away, but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 4.5 : Hasan Ali to Daryl Mitchell, Slower one this time. Full and on off. Mitchell check his stroke in the end and blocks it towards mid on for a single. |
| 4.6 : Hasan Ali to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Guptill is on a roll here. He finds a boundary again on the last delivery of the bowler. Short ball, outside off. Guptill stays back and cuts it over backward point for a boundary. But wait, the umpire says the bowler has overstepped, it is a no ball. There is one ball to go then which will be a Free Hit. |
| A change from both ends now as Haris Rauf is brought into the attack. |
| 5.1 : Haris Rauf to Martin Guptill, Wow! Haris Rauf starts off with a spicy yorker, at 149 kph and right at the toes of Martin Guptill. Guptill can't do much about it and gets hit on the toes. |
| 5.2 : Haris Rauf to Martin Guptill, OUT! Cleaned up! Martin Guptill looked edgy out there and now has to depart early. Martin Guptill makes room and Haris Rauf follows him with a length ball. Guptill looks to whip it on the leg side but is through his shot a bit early. The ball crashes into his pads and goes onto hit the leg stump. The bails come off and Haris Rauf has drawn first blood. |
| The skipper, Kane Williamson walks out at number 3. |
| 5.3 : Haris Rauf to Kane Williamson, Williamson is off the mark straightaway. On the pads and flicked towards deep square leg for a single. |
| 5.4 : Haris Rauf to Daryl Mitchell, Banged into the deck, around off and Mitchell pulls it off the bottom half of the bat towards cow corner for a run. |
| 5.5 : Haris Rauf to Kane Williamson, Full and straight at 148 kph. Williamson keeps it out. |
| 5.6 : Haris Rauf to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Easy pickings for Kane Williamson. Angled in at the pads and Williamson just helps it past the short fine leg fielder and the ball races away into the fence. New Zealand are 42/1 at the end of the Powerplay. |
| 6.1 : Imad Wasim to Daryl Mitchell, On off, Mitchell skips down the track and pushes it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 0.0 : Imad Wasim (2-0-13-0) is back on now. |
| 6.2 : Imad Wasim to Kane Williamson, Pushed through quicker and on middle. Williamson goes deep in his crease and works it throigh mid on for a single. |
| 6.3 : Imad Wasim to Daryl Mitchell, Quicker and flatter, on middle. Mitchell blocks it out. |
| 6.4 : Imad Wasim to Daryl Mitchell, Slightly tossed up, around off. Mitchell leans in and works it on the leg side for one. |
| 6.5 : Imad Wasim to Kane Williamson, This one is flatter and angled into middle and leg, Williamson does well to keep it out on the off side. |
| 6.6 : Imad Wasim to Kane Williamson, This time Wasim pushes it quicker and fuller, on off stump. Williamson is pushed on the back foot as he nudges it towards point. Just the three singles of that over. |
| 7.1 : Shadab Khan to Daryl Mitchell, LEG BYE! Khan starts off with the wrong one, on middle. Daryl Mitchell doesn't pick it up as he looks to work it across the line. The ball goes off the pads on the off side and they get a leg bye. |
| 7.2 : Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Williamson will feel he missed out there. Juicy full toss, around off and Williamson caresses it towards cover. |
| 0.0 : Shadab Khan comes into the attack now. |
| 7.3 : Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Now a bit of turn as well. On off and this one turns away after pitching. Kane Williamson watchfully plays it towards cover-point. |
| 7.4 : Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Flighted ball, on middle. Kane Williamson leans in and drives it through mid on for a couple of runs. |
| 7.5 : Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Flatter one, on the stumps. Williamson blocks it off the back foot. |
| 7.6 : Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Tossed up, on off and this one turns a bit as well. Williamson stays solid in defense. |
| 8.1 : Imad Wasim to Daryl Mitchell, SIX! Just over the ropes. On off and it seems like Daryl Mitchell is beaten in flight. Mitchell still goes after it and the ball goes flat, to the right of long off and clears the boundary rope. Shaheen Afridi puts in the dive but in vain. Maximum! |
| 8.2 : Imad Wasim to Daryl Mitchell, OUT! CAUGHT! Daryl Mitchell looks to go back-to-back but instead holes out to long on. This is a bit short and on middle. Daryl Mitchell just looks to hit through the line of the ball. Mitchell mistimes it badly and the ball goes straight to Fakhar Zaman at long on, who takes the catch well inside the boundary rope. Imad Wasim gets his reward for some fine bowling. |
| 8.3 : Imad Wasim to Kane Williamson, Flatter one, on off and Williamson taps it to backward point. |
| 8.2 : James Neesham comes out at number 4. New Zealand changing the order a bit. |
| 8.4 : Imad Wasim to Kane Williamson, On off again, Williamson works it through cover off the back foot for a single. |
| 8.5 : Imad Wasim to James Neesham, Wasim tries to angle it in from well outside off. James Neesham cuts it behind point on the off side and gets off the mark with a single. |
| 8.6 : Imad Wasim to Kane Williamson, Quicker one, fired in at middle. This one skids on and Kane Williamson does well to keep it out. |
| Mohammad Hafeez comes into the attack now. |
| 9.1 : Mohammad Hafeez to James Neesham, OUT! CAUGHT! James Neesham didn't occupy the crease for long. Mohammad Hafeez strikes off his first delivery as he gets rid of the dangerous Neesham. This one is tossed up, around off stump. Neesham looks to flick it across and clear the short boundary at mid-wicket. The ball goes off the toe end of the bat and Fakhar Zaman runs to his left from the cow corner fence to take a nice running catch. James Neesham will be hugely disappointed with that shot. |
| 9.2 : Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, Slowed up and bowled on a length, around the off stump. Kane Williamson rocks back and gets it through covers for an easy two. |
| 9.3 : Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, Pushed through quicker and on off, Williamson defends it back to thw bowler. |
| 9.4 : Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, On middle and punched off the back foot down to long on for one. |
| 0.0 : DRINKS â Pakistani bowlers have been impressive with the ball yet gain. They have picked up three wickets and look to be in a commanding position. New Zealand, started off slowly, but lost wickets in regular intervals to put themselves in a spot of bother. The side will hope, the current pair is able to stitch an important partnership and do the repair work successfully. Devon Conway walks out for New Zealand now. |
| 9.5 : Mohammad Hafeez to Devon Conway, Flatter delivery, around middle. Conway works it through mid-wicket with soft hands and picks up a single. |
| 9.6 : Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, Fullish ball, on off and Williamson can't get it past the bowler. |
| 10.1 : Shadab Khan to Devon Conway, Flighed, full toss, on off. Conway reverse sweeps it towards point. |
| 0.0 : Shadab Khan (1-0-2-0) is back into the attack. |
| 10.2 : Shadab Khan to Devon Conway, Floated, around middle. Conway flicks it to square leg for a run. |
| 10.3 : Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Some turn this time! Loopy ball, around off. The ball turn away. Williamson prods and looks to defend it out but misses. |
| 10.4 : Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Full and on off. Williamson sweeps it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 10.5 : Shadab Khan to Devon Conway, Tossed up, on off. Conway leans in and blocks it back to the bowler. |
| 10.6 : Shadab Khan to Devon Conway, LEG BYE! Floated, full and on off. Conway looks to sweep it away but misses. The ball goes off the pads, towards short third man. The batters collect a leg bye. |
| 11.1 : Mohammad Hafeez to Devon Conway, Tossed up, full and on middle. Conway plays it back to the bowler. |
| 11.2 : Mohammad Hafeez to Devon Conway, Full and on off. Conway sweeps it to square leg for a single. Imad Wasim collects the ball and throws the ball away from the stumps at the non-striker's end. They don't go for the extra. |
| 11.4 : Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Nicely played. Flatter and on off. Williamson goes back and pulls it through mid-wicket and finds a boundary. |
| 11.5 : Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, SIX! All the way! OH MY! Kane Williamson comes out with a one-handed sixer. What a shot. Full and on off. Williamson comes forwards and lifts it towards long on. His one hand comes off the bat as he connects the ball. The ball clears the long on fence easily. |
| 11.6 : Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, On off, Williamson reverse sweeps it towards point for a single. |
| 11.3 : Mohammad Hafeez to Kane Williamson, NOT OUT! Kane Williamson survives. Mohammad Hafeez's second wicket gets rules out. Floated, around middle and off. Williamson changes his stance and looks to reverse hit it but misses. He gets rapped on his legs. Hafeez puts in an appeal at the umpire raises his finger in a flash. Kane Williamson though calls for the review starightaway. The UltraEdge shows the bat is involved and the decision has to be overturned. |
| Kane Williamson takes the review straightaway for an LBW decision. He feels that he hit the ball and UltraEdge confirms that indeed the ball came off the glove and then went on to hit the pads. Williamson survives and New Zealand also retain the review. |
| 12.1 : Shadab Khan to Kane Williamson, Tossed up, around off. Williamson taps it to point and rotates the strike. |
| 12.2 : Shadab Khan to Devon Conway, Full and on off. Conway reverse-sweeps it towards backward point. |
| 12.3 : Shadab Khan to Devon Conway, Darted on the pads. Conway flicks it through mid-wicket. The batters collect a couple. |
| 12.4 : Shadab Khan to Devon Conway, MISFIELD AND FOUR! Floated, full and on off. Conway sweeps it towards deep square leg. Asif Ali misfield in the deep and the ball ends up in the boundary. The entire crowd in the stadium has their eyes on Asif Ali. |
| 12.5 : Shadab Khan to Devon Conway, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Conway connects much better this time. Full and on off. Conway kneels forward and sweeps it through square leg. The ball reaches the fence way before Ali could comes across to his right to make the stop. |
| 12.6 : Shadab Khan to Devon Conway, FOUR! Conway is flying at the moment. Three boundaries in a row to end the over. Tossed up, full and around off. Conway reverse-sweeps it past backward point. The ball races away to the boundary. |
| Hasan Ali (1-0-15-0) is brought back into the attack. |
| 13.1 : Hasan Ali to Kane Williamson, OUT! RUN OUT! Kane Williamson has to walk back after a huge mix-up in the middle. The Kiwi skipper gives away his wicket here. Short ball, outside off. Williamson looks to cut it away. But he gets an inside edge and the ball rolls out to the off side. Williamson ventured out of the crease looking for a single, but Conway sends him back immediately. There was never a single there. Hasan Ali collects the ball quickly and scores a direct hit at the striker's en |
| 4.6 : The onfield umpires have gone upstairs for a Run Out appeal. The replay shows that Kane Williamson failed to get back in time and has to depart cheaply. |
| 13.2 : Hasan Ali to Glenn Phillips, On off, Phillips blocks it out. |
| Glenn Phillips is in at number 6. |
| 13.3 : Hasan Ali to Glenn Phillips, An appeal for lbw but the umpire is unmoved. Length ball, around middle and leg. Phillips hangs back and looks to flick it away but misses. The ball takes the thigh pad and goes towards short third man. Ali appeals but the umpire says no. |
| 13.4 : Hasan Ali to Glenn Phillips, Full and on the pads. Phillips flick it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 13.5 : Hasan Ali to Devon Conway, NO BALL! Ali hurls across a length ball on the pads from around the stumps. Conway looks to tuck it behind square on the leg side but misses. The ball goes off the pads towards short fine leg and they get a leg bye. Hasan Ali has overstepped and a no ball is called. Free Hit time. |
| Hasan Ali to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length, on off. Glenn Phillips hangs back and pulls it towards deep square leg. He does not make the most of the Free Hit. The batters take a single. |
| 4.6 : Hasan Ali to Martin Guptill, Ali bowls a good yorker to leak just a single in the Free Hit. Yorker, on off. Guptill digs it out towards square leg and takes a single. |
| Hasan Ali to Devon Conway, A single to end the over. Length ball, around off, angling into the batter. Conway stays back and defends it towards mid-wicket and gets a single. |
| 14.1 : Haris Rauf to Devon Conway, A single now! Full length, on off. Conway comes inside the line and flicks it towards mid-wicket for a single. |
| 0.0 : Haris Rauf (1-0-6-1) comes back into the attack. |
| 14.2 : Haris Rauf to Glenn Phillips, Full and on the pads. Phillips hangs back and clips it through mid-wicket for another single. |
| 14.3 : Haris Rauf to Devon Conway, A length ball, on middle and leg. Conway tucks it to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 14.4 : Haris Rauf to Glenn Phillips, Back of a length, outside off. Glenn Phillips punches it to the off side and gets another single. |
| 14.5 : Haris Rauf to Devon Conway, This is the fifth single of the over. This also bring up 100 for New Zealand. Full and on off. Conway flicks it through mid-wicket for another run. |
| 14.6 : Haris Rauf to Glenn Phillips, Good-length ball, outside off. Glenn Phillips hangs back and looks to heave it away but misses. The ball skids after pitching. A good end to the over, just five runs coming off it. Rauf has been very economical till now. |
| 15.1 : Hasan Ali to Devon Conway, Very full, on middle and leg, Conway digs it out to long on for a single. |
| 15.2 : Hasan Ali to Glenn Phillips, In the slot and Glenn Phillips has clubbed this one on the bounce to long on. He gets a run. |
| 15.3 : Hasan Ali to Devon Conway, Conway comes down the pitch and strokes the length ball through cover for another one. One of them has to go now, singles won't do at this stage. |
| 15.4 : Hasan Ali to Glenn Phillips, It's very full again and straight from Ali, Phillips pushes it down to long on for a single yet again. |
| 15.5 : Hasan Ali to Devon Conway, On the pads and nudged to deep square leg for a single. It's now five singles in the over. |
| 15.6 : Hasan Ali to Glenn Phillips, A length ball, angled into the batter. Glenn Phillips gets it towards wide long on and this time they do get a couple of runs. |
| 16.1 : Shaheen Afridi to Devon Conway, Length, on off. Conway dabs it through mid-wicket and picks up a run. |
| 15.6 : Shaheen Afridi comes back into the attack. His figures read (2-1-8-0) so far. |
| 16.2 : Shaheen Afridi to Glenn Phillips, LEG BYE! Slower ball, around the leg stump. Glenn Phillips looks to hoick it on the leg side but misses it completely and the ball hits the pads. The ball goes nowhere and Conway calls his partner for a quick single and they make the leg bye in time. |
| 16.3 : Shaheen Afridi to Devon Conway, Full toss, on leg stump and Devon Conway has missed out on that one. Conway whips it to deep square leg for just a single. |
| 16.4 : Shaheen Afridi to Glenn Phillips, A half volley, on the pads and Phillips picks it up really well. Phillips just gets a single as he picks out the fielder at deep backward square leg perfectly. |
| 16.5 : Shaheen Afridi to Devon Conway, Excellent bowling from Afridi. Nails the yorker, around off stump. Conway looks to open the face of the bat and get it through point but gets an inside edge towards short fine leg. They get a quick single. |
| 16.6 : Shaheen Afridi to Glenn Phillips, FOUR! First boundary in sometime for New Zealand and they desperately needed it. In the slot and Glenn Phillips has absolutely drilled this one back past the bowler for a boundary. 9 off the over. |
| Haris Rauf is back into the attack. |
| 17.1 : Haris Rauf to Devon Conway, OUT! CAUGHT! Devon Conway got himself in and has thrown his wicket away at the death. A length ball, on leg stump. Conway picks it up and lifts it high towards the mid-wicket fence. Conway doesn't get any distance on it and the skipper, Babar Azam settles under it to take a fine catch. Haris Rauf has his second wicket and New Zealand under even more pressure now. |
| 17.2 : Haris Rauf to Glenn Phillips, A dot to backup the wicket ball. A 148 kph length ball, right on the money. This one is over off stump and whizzes past the outside edge of Phillip's willow. |
| 0.0 : Who will walk out next? Tim Seifert it is. |
| 17.3 : Haris Rauf to Glenn Phillips, OUT! CAUGHT! This one was travelling but the catch is taken. This is in the slot a bit, on off and Glenn Phillips looks to hit across the line. To be fair, Phillips hits it really well but hits it flat. Hasan Ali runs in from the mid-wicket fence and takes a brilliant tumbling catch as the ball was always dipping on him. Both set batters are out and New Zealand lose their sixth. Haris Rauf has bowled with fire today. |
| Mitchell Santner walks out at number 8. |
| 17.4 : Haris Rauf to Tim Seifert, On middle and worked through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| 17.5 : Haris Rauf to Tim Seifert, Rauf hits the length hard, around off stump. Seifert hops to defend it out. |
| 17.6 : Haris Rauf to Tim Seifert, Full and straight, at 145 kph. Seifert drives it nicely down to long on for a single. Just 3 runs and a couple of wickets off the over. |
| 18.1 : Shaheen Afridi to Tim Seifert, Well bowled. Afridi deceives the batter with a slower delivery. On a length, on middle and angled across. Seifert looks to swipe it across but gets undone by the lack of pace. |
| 18.2 : Shaheen Afridi to Tim Seifert, A yorker, at the toes of the batter. Seifert can't do much about it and gets hit flush on the toe. That must have hurt. It's a review at the last moment from Pakistan and the replay clearly indicates that the ball pitched a long way outside leg stump. NOT OUT! |
| 18.3 : Shaheen Afridi to Tim Seifert, In the air...safe! A length ball, on middle and Tim Seifert lifts this one over mid-wicket. The fielders from deep mid-wicket and long on converge but neither can get to it. They get a single in the end. |
| 18.2 : Review. After a lot of talk, Babar Azam decides to take an lbw review. The UltraEdge shows no bat is involved. The Ball Tracker shows the impact is outside leg. The on-field decision of not out stands. Pakistan lose a review here. |
| 18.4 : Shaheen Afridi to Mitchell Santner, LEG BYE! Very full and around leg stump, going on with the angle. Santner looks to flick it on the leg side but misses. The ball goes off the pads on the leg side and they get a leg bye. |
| 18.5 : Shaheen Afridi to Tim Seifert, FOUR! Wow! A yorker, on middle. Tim Seifert walks right across his stumps and sweeps it right off the middle stump and into the backward square leg fence. |
| 18.6 : Shaheen Afridi to Tim Seifert, OUT! CAUGHT! The change of pace has done the trick for Shaheen Afridi and he has his first wicket of the match. Slower one, on middle and angled across. Tim Seifert gives himself room and looks to swing across the line. In the end, Seifert gets a top edge which loops up towards backward point. Mohammad Hafeez takes the simplest of catches over there. |
| Who will come out now? Ish Sodhi it is. |
| 19.1 : Haris Rauf to Ish Sodhi, Back of a length, around off and dabbed down towards third man for a single. |
| 19.2 : Haris Rauf to Mitchell Santner, Was that a chance? Fullish ball, on off and Mitchell Santner looks to go over mid off. Santner hits it aerially to the right of mid off, where Babar Azam puts in the dive but can't get to the ball. The batters race back for the couple. |
| 19.3 : Haris Rauf to Mitchell Santner, BYE! Swing and a miss. Slower one, around off. Santner misses it completely but does get the bye. |
| 19.4 : Haris Rauf to Ish Sodhi, Full, on off and driven towards cover for a single. |
| 19.5 : Haris Rauf to Mitchell Santner, FOUR! Full again, around off and at 149 kph. Mitchell Santner makes room and creams this one through cover for a much needed boundary. |
| 19.6 : Haris Rauf to Mitchell Santner, OUT! Cleaned up! Haris Rauf gets his fourth wicket and finishes the innings off in style. The change of pace again works wonders. This is on a length, around middle and is slowed up. Mitchell Santner takes a big swing at it across the line but gets undone by the lack of pace. The ball goes onto hit top of off stump and Haris Rauf ends with figures of 4-0-22-4. New Zealand FINISH WITH 134/8! |
| End of a really good effort with the ball by Pakistan yet again! They have justified their skipperâs decision of bowling first. |
| They did not pick a lot of wickets in the Powerplay but the key was wickets at regular intervals. They really made excellent use of the surface and bowled accordingly. Really canât point a single bowler out as it was a combined effort. However, Rauf yet again and as in his element with a four-fer. He though received some support from the rest. Had Pakistan fielded like they did in the last game, they could have restricted the Kiwis to a lower total. |
| New Zealand on the other hand, found it tough. A few of their batters got starts but none went onto make a significant score. The wicket of Williamson probably hurt them a lot. It was just before the wicket momentum seemed like shifting but once he fell, the batters who came later failed to adapt to the surface and in the end, they have fallen well below where they would have wanted to be. |
| Imad Wasim is in for a chat. He says, the surface was spinning a bit as well, adds it is not a typical Sharjah where you score high scores. But this is a good score on this surface what Kiwis have made. Adds that New Zealand have world-class bowlerâs and will canât take it away from them. Ends by saying, their batters are in good touch and this should be an interesting chase. |
| The score is not a big one but we have seen here, such scores can be defended if you bowl well. The Kiwis have the bowlerâs and Pakistan's batting is not always reliable. They though would back themselves to chase it down. Second half in a bit. |
| ... The Run Chase ... |
| The chase is set to begin. |
| 0.1 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Rizwan, Santner starts off with a fullish ball, on off. Rizwan works it to short mid-wicket. |
| 0.2 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Rizwan, Tossed up, full and on middle. Rizwan and Pakistan are underway. Rizwan pushes it down to long on and picks up a run. |
| 0.3 : Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam, FOUR! Babar Azam is off the mark in style. Santner gives it some air and flights it up, outside off. Babar Azam lifts it over extra cover and picks up a boundary. |
| 0.4 : Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam, Flatter one, angled into middle and leg. Azam goes on the back foot and works it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 0.5 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Rizwan, Fired in full and around middle, Rizwan flicks it through mid-wicket for another one. |
| 0.6 : Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam, Flighted delivery, on off. Azam pushes it to mid off. 7 off the first over. |
| It is going to be pace from the other end. Tim Southee to steam in. |
| 1.1 : Tim Southee to Mohammad Rizwan, Southee looks for the swing as he pitches it up, around middle and leg. The ball keeps a bit low as Rizwan keeps it out on the leg side. |
| 1.2 : Tim Southee to Mohammad Rizwan, A length ball, on top of off. Rizwan punches it off the back foot towards short mid on and the batters look for a quick single. They don't go for the single and in the end it's the right decision as the fielder scores a direct hit at the bowler's end. |
| 1.3 : Tim Southee to Mohammad Rizwan, WIDE! Southee looks to swing it off the pads but drifts down the leg side. Rizwan misses the flick and a wide is signalled. |
| Tim Southee to Mohammad Rizwan, On middle and leg, flicked straight to square leg. |
| 1.4 : Tim Southee to Mohammad Rizwan, A slower length ball this time, on leg stump. Rizwan works it behind to deep backward square leg for a single. |
| 1.5 : Tim Southee to Babar Azam, Good-length ball, around off and Azam punches it towards mid on. |
| 1.6 : Tim Southee to Babar Azam, A dot to end teh over. Southee hits the length hard, around off and this one is angled into the batter. Babar Azam doesn't move his feet as he looks to tuck it away and ends up getting hit on the thigh pads. |
| Trent Boult comes into the attack now. He replaces Mitchell Santner. |
| 2.1 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR! Stand and deliver from Mohammad Rizwan. Length, on top of off. Rizwan just hangs back and short arm jabs it in front of square on the leg side and picks up a boundary. |
| 2.2 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, Pitched up, around off and Rizwan drives it on the up towards cover. |
| 2.3 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, WIDE! Good-length ball, down the leg side. Rizwan looks to pull but misses and the bowler appeals a bit. Umpire turns it down and signals a wide. |
| Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, Boult hurls across a length ball, outside off. Rizwan taps it to cover-point. |
| 2.4 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, Back of a length, close to the off stump, allowing no room to the batter. Rizwan hops and taps it to point. |
| 2.5 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, Another dot ball. Mohammad Rizwan will feel he missed out on that one. Length again, around leg stump, Rizwan looks to help it round the corner but gloves it down to the keeper. |
| 2.6 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, Ouch! That must have hurt. A good-length ball, on leg stump. Mohammad Rizwan looks to swing across the line but is through his shot a bit early. He misses and the ball hits him in the box. Hope he is fine. Some deep breathes required at the end of the third over for Rizwan. |
| 3.1 : Tim Southee to Babar Azam, Back of a length, around off and Azam can't get it away on the leg side. |
| 3.2 : Tim Southee to Babar Azam, Shortish ball, around middle and Azam pulls it down to deep square leg for a single. |
| 3.3 : Tim Southee to Mohammad Rizwan, Southee bowls a slower one, on off stump. Rizwan can't get it through mid-wicket and the pressure is building up on him. |
| 3.4 : Tim Southee to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR! All the pressure is released as Tim Southee bowls a poor delivery. Southee goes wider of the crease and angles it into the body but the ball ends up down the leg side. Mohammad Rizwan stands tall and pulls it behind square on the leg side for a boundary. |
| 3.5 : Tim Southee to Mohammad Rizwan, short again and this is pulled straight to deep square leg for a run. |
| 3.6 : Tim Southee to Babar Azam, Cracking shot and Martin Guptill got an important hand on it to save a couple of runs. Length, on middle. Azam clears his front leg and muscles it through mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 4.1 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR! What a shot. Good-length ball, around off. Rizwan hangs back and guides it past backward point. The ball races away to the fence. |
| 4.2 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, A length ball, around off. Rizwan look stays inside the crease and looks to defend it out. He ends up getting an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 4.3 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, Slightly short and on off. Rizwan pulls it to mid-wicket off the inner half. |
| 4.4 : Trent Boult to Mohammad Rizwan, A length ball, on off. Rizwan pulls it through square leg for a single. |
| 4.5 : Trent Boult to Babar Azam, Short and on off. Azam plays it back to the bowler. |
| 4.6 : Trent Boult to Babar Azam, Length and on off. Azam pushes it to cover and takes off for a single. |
| 5.1 : Tim Southee to Babar Azam, OUT! KNOCKS HIM OVER! 100th T20I wicket for Tim Southee and what a wicket it is and what a time to get it! His team was in desperate need of a wicket, they were keeping ti tight but they needed a breakthrough and he has got the big fish, Babar Azam. The crowd here has gone silent! Once again it is that length, just ahead of a shorter length and behind a good length. Southee bowls a cutter. Azam looks to pull which is not a good idea on this surface. The ball stays |
| 0.0 : Fakhar Zaman somes in at number 3. |
| 5.2 : Tim Southee to Fakhar Zaman, Zaman is underway! Fuller and on off, it is pushed to mid off for a quick run. |
| 5.3 : Tim Southee to Mohammad Rizwan, Another one which is slightly short and on middle, Rizwan pulls it hard through square leg for one. |
| 5.4 : Tim Southee to Fakhar Zaman, That one stays low and there was no foot movement from Zaman there! Short and outside off, Zaman cuts but is beaten. |
| 5.5 : Tim Southee to Fakhar Zaman, Yet another dot! Down the leg side this time, a slower one. It holds in the surface. Zaman looks to flick but misses. It hits the pad and the keeper does well to dive to his right and stop it. |
| 5.6 : Tim Southee to Fakhar Zaman, A dot to end and just the two runs and the huge wicket of Azam from the 6th. A really good Powerplay for New Zealand. Pakistan are 30 for 1. They need another 105 in 84. The last ball is on a length and around off, Zaman guides it to point. |
| 6.1 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Rizwan, Flatter and on middle, this is defended back to the bowler. |
| 0.0 : Mitchell Santner (1-0-7-0) is brought back into the attack. |
| 6.2 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR! That is a handy boundary! Much-needed! Not a good delivery from Santner. It is down the leg side. Rizwan sweeps and it goes fine to the fine leg fence. |
| 6.3 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Rizwan, On middle, fuller, this is worked through mid-wicket for one. |
| 6.4 : Mitchell Santner to Fakhar Zaman, Confusion but safe! Flatter and on off, it is pushed to cover. Zaman wants a run but is sent back. He felt there was one there and is still arguing about it. |
| 6.5 : Mitchell Santner to Fakhar Zaman, Yet another dot! Quicker and on off, Zaman pushes it to covers again. |
| 6.6 : Mitchell Santner to Fakhar Zaman, A single to end! So a good comeback by the bowler after going for a boundary on the second ball. Just the six from the over. Tosses it up, enticing the batter to go big but Zaman works it towards mid-wicket and takes one. |
| 7.1 : James Neesham to Fakhar Zaman, Neesham gets away with one there! It is short and on the body, Zaman does not connect with the ball that well, it goes towards fine leg for one. |
| 0.0 : James Neesham now comes on to bowl. |
| 7.2 : James Neesham to Mohammad Rizwan, A slower one, fuller and on the pads, Rizwan looks to flick but misses. It hits the pad and rolls on the leg side. A single taken. Leg bye. |
| 7.3 : James Neesham to Fakhar Zaman, That almost knocked him over! Zaman comes down the track, Neesham bowls a seam-up ball and angles it into the batter. Zaman swings but misses. |
| 7.4 : James Neesham to Fakhar Zaman, Another dot! Pressure building. A slower one on off, Rizwan pushes it to covers. |
| 7.5 : James Neesham to Fakhar Zaman, Make that three dots in a row! Another slower one, well outside off, Zaman swings again but does not connect. Can Neesham end the over well? |
| 7.6 : James Neesham to Fakhar Zaman, Fuller and on middle, this is hit down to long on for one. End of an excellent over from Neesham. |
| 8.1 : Ish Sodhi comes into the attack for the first time today. |
| 8.2 : Ish Sodhi to Fakhar Zaman, Full and on off. Zaman gets low and reverse sweeps it towards backward point. |
| 8.1 : Ish Sodhi to Fakhar Zaman, Flighted, around off. Zaman looks to defend it out. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards point. |
| 8.3 : Ish Sodhi to Fakhar Zaman, SIX! All the way! This one is over the stands. Zaman gets into the attack now. Full and on off. Zaman gets on one knee and slog-sweeps it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie. |
| 8.4 : Ish Sodhi to Fakhar Zaman, Loopy ball, around middle. Zaman clips it towards square leg for a single. |
| 8.5 : Ish Sodhi to Mohammad Rizwan, Full and outside off. Rizwan leans in and drives it towards cover for a single. |
| 8.6 : Ish Sodhi to Fakhar Zaman, OUT! LBW! New Zealand take the review and gets rid of Fakhar Zaman pretty early on. Flatter, around middle and leg. Zaman stays inside the crease and looks to defend it out but misses. The ball takes the pads and rolls out. Sodhi appeals for lbw but the umpire is unmoved. Kane Williamson takes it upstairs. The UltraEdge shows no bat is involved. The Ball Tracker shows three reds and Zaman holes out now. Can New Zealand build on this momentum now? |
| 9.1 : James Neesham to Mohammad Rizwan, BEATEN! That is another beauty! Length and on off, this lands and moves away. Rizwan is beaten all ends up as he tries to drive. |
| 0.0 : Mohammad Hafeez comes in at number 4. |
| 9.2 : James Neesham to Mohammad Rizwan, Angled into the pads, Rizwan works it through mid-wicket. He calls for two but it is just a single. |
| 9.3 : James Neesham to Mohammad Hafeez, SIX! SMACK! What a shot that is! Wow! That is the first ball he faced. It is a length delivery outside off, Hafeez stands tall and hits it well over the cover fence for a biggie. |
| 0.0 : Kane Williamson has taken the review for an LBW decision. The ball looks very close to the bat but UltraEdge confirms that it is definitely pad first. Ball Tracker shows that the ball is indeed going on to hit middle stump and what a review it has been for New Zealand. Fakhar Zaman is OUT! |
| 9.4 : James Neesham to Mohammad Hafeez, On middle, Hafeez pushes it down to long on and gets to the other end. Good batting. |
| 9.5 : James Neesham to Mohammad Rizwan, Angled into the pads, this is worked through square leg by Rizwan with ease for one. |
| 9.6 : James Neesham to Mohammad Hafeez, Two more! Angled into the pads, Hafeez flicks, it goes well over mid-wicket. Two taken. Not the kind of over New Zealand needed after taking a wicket. 11 from it. |
| 10.1 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Rizwan, Really good running! Flatter and on off, Rizwan plays it towards cover and takes off. Hafeez puts in the dive to get in. |
| 10.2 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Hafeez, Fires it on the pads, Hafeez works it through square leg for one. |
| 0.0 : DRINKS! New Zealand have bowled well and it has kept them in the game. Pakistan have started off a bit slowly and the wickets of Azam and Zaman have rattled them. But an in-form Mohammad Rizwan is still at the crease alonsgide Mohammad Hafeez. Pakistan need 77 runs off 60 deliveries and wickets are key. Also, Mitchell Santner (2-0-13-0) is brought back into the attack. |
| 10.3 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Rizwan, Tosses it up on off, Rizwan sweeps it through mid-wicket for one. |
| 10.4 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Hafeez, Dealing in singles now! On off, Hafeez eases it down to long off for one. |
| 10.5 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Rizwan, Shorter and outside off, Rizwan plays it through point for one. 5 singles in the over so far. Can he end it well? |
| 10.6 : Mitchell Santner to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT! TAKEN! IS THAT SUPERMAN? NO! THAT IS DEVON CONWAY WITH AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY OF A TAKE! WOW! Timely wicket for the Kiwis as the momentum just started to shift and the move to get Santner on has worked wonders. Hafeez will feel a touch unfortunate. He had creamed that! Skips down the track, gets to the pitch of it and places it wide of long off. It seems to be destined for a boundary but Conway runs there, dives and takes a stunner. This game is just s |
| Shoaib Malik is the new man at the crease. Ish Sodhi (1-0-8-1) is brought back into the attack. |
| 11.1 : Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, Tossed up on middle, Malik plays it back to the bowler. |
| 11.2 : Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, Flatter and on off, Malik plays it through point for one. |
| 11.3 : Ish Sodhi to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR! Pulled hard and into the fence! That is a half tracker! Short and on middle, Rizwan pulls it hard through mid-wicket. In the gap and races away to the fence. Not good bowling and Rizwan pounces on it. |
| 11.4 : Ish Sodhi to Mohammad Rizwan, WIDE! Slows it up but bowls it well wide outside off. Wided. |
| 11.5 : Ish Sodhi to Imad Wasim, On middle, Wasim works it to mid-wicket. |
| 11.4 : Imad Wasim walks out to bat at number 6. |
| 11.6 : Ish Sodhi to Imad Wasim, A single now! On the pads, Wasim looks to flick but gets an inside edge, it hits the pad and rolls on the leg side. A single. |
| 11.4 : Ish Sodhi to Mohammad Rizwan, OUT! LBW! That is plumb and the main man is out of here! This is a huge blow and the fans know it here as there is pin drop silence now! Flatter and on middle, this one skids through. Rizwan goes back to flick but misses. It hits him on the pads. An appeal and the finger is raised. Rizwan knows he is a goner but still walks up to his partner to have a word. No review. New Zealand well and truly on top now. |
| 11.6 : James Neesham (2-0-13-0) is back into the attack. |
| 12.1 : James Neesham to Imad Wasim, Does not time it but gets two! The plan is to probably go after Neesham! Imad straightaway skips down the track and Neesham bowls it wide outside off, it is dragged down towards long on for two. |
| 12.2 : James Neesham to Imad Wasim, Outside off, Wasim guides it through point for one. |
| 12.3 : James Neesham to Shoaib Malik, Fuller and on middle, Malik works it to mid-wicket. No run taken. |
| 12.4 : James Neesham to Shoaib Malik, Good length and on off, Malik looks to drive but gets an inside edge onto the pads. It rolls on the off side for one. |
| 12.5 : James Neesham to Imad Wasim, Full and down the leg side, Wasim looks to flick but misses, it hits the pad and goes to the keeper, an appeal but turned down. |
| 12.6 : James Neesham to Imad Wasim, Well fielded by Southee! Fuller and outside off, this is hit towards cover. Two fielders dive for it but Southee at mid off stops it. Just the one. |
| Bowling change. |
| 13.1 : Ish Sodhi to Imad Wasim, Outside off, Wasim hits it down to long off for one. |
| 13.2 : Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, Shorter and on middle, this is whipped through mid-wicket for one more. |
| 13.3 : Ish Sodhi to Imad Wasim, Yet another dot! Pressure building! The reverse sweep comes out, the ball is outside off. Wasim misses and it hits the pad. Something has to give here. Run rate needed going up. |
| 13.4 : Ish Sodhi to Imad Wasim, Just the one! On off, this is hit down to long off for one. |
| 13.5 : Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, Just the one! On the pads, Malik works it through square leg for one. |
| 13.6 : Ish Sodhi to Imad Wasim, WIDE AND A RUN! Bonus for Pakistan! Short and down the leg side. Wasim looks to pull but misses. The keeper does not collect it cleanly. A single taken. |
| Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, A single to end! A decent over by Sodhi. 53 needed in 36. Excellent stop. Saves three for his side. Shorter and outside off, this is cut towards point. The fielder there, dives to his left and stops it. |
| Trent Boult (2-0-11-0) is brought back into the attack. |
| 14.1 : Trent Boult to Shoaib Malik, Fuller and on off, Malik pushes it to covers. A dot to begin. Dots are gold. |
| 14.2 : Trent Boult to Shoaib Malik, Just the one! Outside off, Malik guides it to short third man. He takes off for one. The throw comes at the bowler's end but he does not hit. |
| 14.3 : Trent Boult to Imad Wasim, Really not sure about that shot! Imad gets into the position to play the reverse sweep quite early. This is bowled down the leg side. Imad misses. Not wided. |
| 14.4 : Trent Boult to Imad Wasim, FOUR! Slapped away! That is a pressure relieving boundary! It is short and a slower one. Imad Wasim waits and then slams it over covers for a boundary. Much-needed. |
| 14.5 : Trent Boult to Imad Wasim, OUT! LBW! Once agian that is a poor stroke by Imad! Not sure why he would try that! It is on the stumps, a seam-up ball. Wasim looks to play the reverse sweep but misses. It hits him on the pad. An appeal and the finger is raised. Wasim starts limping off but then thinks of a review, time is up though and he goes back. |
| 14.6 : Trent Boult to Asif Ali, FOUR! That is some way to get off the mark! Length and outside off, Asif plays it nice and late and guides it through backward point. Boundary. End of an action packed over. 44 needed in 30 now. |
| 14.5 : Asif Ali comes in at number 7. |
| 15.1 : Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, Tossed up, on off. Malik comes down the track and works it to long on for a single. |
| 15.2 : Ish Sodhi to Asif Ali, Another single now! Flatter and around off. Ali guides it towards third man for a single. |
| 15.3 : Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, A dot now! Flighted, full and on off. Malik steps forward and pushes it to cover. |
| 15.4 : Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, Two dots in a row now. The pressure keeps mounting with every dot ball. Darted, on the pads. Malik looks to sweep it away but misses. The ball rolls out off the pads. |
| 15.5 : Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, FOUR! This might release some pressure. Full and on middle. Malik dances down the track and lifts it towards long on. The ball ends up in the boundary. |
| 15.6 : Ish Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, LEG BYE! Full and down leg. Malik misses his sweep. The ball rolls out off the pads. The batters collect a leg bye. 37 needed in 24 balls. |
| 16.1 : Tim Southee to Shoaib Malik, Southee starts his final over with a single. Slower, length ball, around off. Malik hangs back and punches it through cover for a single. |
| 0.0 : Tim Southee (3-0-12-1) to bowl out. |
| 16.2 : Tim Southee to Asif Ali, SIX! BANG! Ali is getting his side back in the game. He hits it down the ground. Slower ball, half volley, around off. Ali powers it down the ground for a maximum at long off. |
| 16.3 : Tim Southee to Asif Ali, SIX! Ali is on a roll. Back-to-back maximums. Touch short and on off. Ali hangs back and powers it over the long on fence for another biggie. Pakistan are right back in it. |
| 16.4 : Tim Southee to Asif Ali, NOT OUT! Southee appeals for an lbw but the umpire is unmoved. A length ball, around middle and off. Ali stays inside the crease and looks to pull it away but misses. He gets rapped on the pads, Southee and the team appeals but the umpire says no. Kane Williamson decides to take it upstairs. The UltraEdge shows no bat is involved. The Ball Tracker shows that the ball is missing the wickets. Asif Ali survies. |
| 16.5 : Tim Southee to Asif Ali, Swing and a miss! Good-length ball, outside off. Ali looks to chase it but misses. |
| 16.4 : Kane Williamson has taken the review for an LBW decision. This one is more hope than certainty. UltraEdge shows that there's no bat involved and Ball Tracker confirms that the ball is going over the stumps. Asif Ali stays at the crease. |
| 16.6 : Tim Southee to Asif Ali, Back of a length, around off. The ball skids off the surface. Ali looks to pull it away on the back foot but misses. The ball takes the top edge and Ali gets hit on the helmet. He goes down in the crease, but he shows thumbs up to the kiwi players who surround him while checking on him. A great over for Pakistan 13 runs coming off it. |
| 17.1 : Mitchell Santner to Shoaib Malik, FOUR! Santner is brought back and Malik is on the charge straightaway. Short and outside off. Malik hangs on the back foot and cuts it through point for a boundary. This match is swinging from one end to the other. |
| 0.0 : Asif Ali has been hit on the grill of the helmet and hence, out comes the physio for the compulsory concussion check. Hope he is fine and the physio is asking him a few questions. Everything seems fine now and we are ready to resume play. Mitchell Santner (3-0-18-1) comes on to bowl his final over. |
| 17.2 : Mitchell Santner to Shoaib Malik, On the pads. Malik flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace. |
| 17.4 : Mitchell Santner to Shoaib Malik, On the pads, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 17.3 : Mitchell Santner to Shoaib Malik, SIX! HIGH AND HANDSOME! You can't let Malik come down the ground. Tossed up, on off. Malik dances down the track and smokes it over the long off fence for a maximum. |
| 17.5 : Mitchell Santner to Asif Ali, Flatter and on middle and leg. Ali clips it through mid-wicket. The batters take two, as there is no one inside the circle. Good-running. |
| 17.6 : Mitchell Santner to Asif Ali, Flatter and on off. Ali drives it to cover. A great over for Pakistan, they are inching closer to the finish line. |
| Trent Boult (3-0-20-1) to bowl the penultimate over. |
| 18.1 : Trent Boult to Shoaib Malik, Fullish ball, around off. Shoaib Malik walks across the stumps and heaves it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 18.2 : Trent Boult to Asif Ali, A length ball, around leg stump, cramping Ali for room. Ali looks to flick it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. |
| 18.1 : Asif Ali looks to struggle in the middle at the moment. He had been hit in the grills a while back. The physio is out to go through the concussion test yet again. This is taking some time. Asif Ali decides to continue and the physio makes his way out of the pitch. |
| 18.3 : Trent Boult to Asif Ali, SIX! That outta do it now! Trent Boult bangs in a short ball, around middle and it's just not short enough. Asif Ali hangs back and absolutely muscles it over the wide long on fence. Just 2 needed now. |
| 18.4 : Trent Boult to Asif Ali, That's it, Pakistan have gone 2 out of 2! Fullish ball, around off. Asif Ali drives it through cover and the batters come back for the second. Pakistan WIN BY 5 WICKETS! |
| What a chase that turned out to be! It was the opening two which came to the fore for Pakistan in the first game and this time it was the middle and the lower order. Absolutely stunning from Malik and Asif Ali. Especially the former, he paced his innings so well and the others who came out to bat with him just played around him and did their job. Pakistan really look a superb team and they have more or less sealed their passage to the semi finals. |
| The start though was not that great for Pakistan. They began slowly and lost Babar Azam in the Powerplay. They just could not get a move on and just as they seemed like moving ahead with the game, they kept losing wickets. They were in a spot of bother when Rizwan fell. The Men in Green were reeling at 69 for 4 and the run rate needed was nearing 9. Malik though kept his cool, played sensibly, he wanted to take it deep. Pakistan though still needed someone to play a cameo for them and it came fr |
| The Kiwis actually should be pleased with the fight they showed, they bowled hard lengths and made it difficult for Pakistan to score. Southee was terrific, Sodhi was also very impressive. To add to that, they were brilliant in the field. However, when mattered they failed to keep their nerve, they needed to bowl well at the death but that was not to be. |
| Earlier in the day, after electing to bowl, Pakistan put in another excellent display with the ball as they restricted New Zealand to a low total on a challenging surface. They were struggling to gun it down but a good innings from Malik and a superb knock form Asif Ali took them over the line. |
| ... Presentation Time ... |
| Haris Rauf wins the Man of the Match award for his tremendous spell with the ball. (4-0-22-4). He is up for a chat. He says, that the team's effort in the field, supporting the bowlers was the key and the fans support too was important. Adds that the type of bowlers they have, they support each other and they constantly talk about the pitch and conditions. Mentions that his pick of the wicket today was the one of Guptill as it took New Zealand's momentum away. He ends by thanking his family fo |
| Kane Williamson, the New Zealand skipper, is up for chat. He says, it is very disappointed. They were quite optimistic in the halfway mark, but this is good Pakistan side, who managed to take it over the line. Mentions, the boys could not nail it in the end. On being asked about the bowling pack, he says, the bowlers were outstanding for the 80 percent of the game. They had planned to keep it on the stumps but once there were poor deliveries, the batters pounced on them and took the game away fr |
| Babar Azam, the victorious skipper, says that he is always happy with a win and it gives them a lot of confidence. Adds that it was a team effort, the way they started with the ball and they way the spinners bowled and finally Haris Rauf bowled really well. Adds that mainly the fielding effort was exceptional. Mentions that they leaked 10 or so more runs and when they came out to bat, early wickets fell. He applauds the efforts of Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali for the way they batted and finished of |
| So, that is it from this game, it was South Africa who won the first one in the afternoon and then it was Pakistan who emerged victorious second time in a row. Two games coming your way on Wednesday. First it is England taking on Bangladesh and then Scotland will be locking horns with Namibia. Action begins at 1400 local (1000 GMT). Till then, take care and goodbye! |
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