Tag: PAK vs NZ

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam revealed the reason behind the national men’s cricket team’s shocking defeat against an inexperienced New Zealand side in the third T20I of the ongoing five-match series.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Babar debunked the team’s slow approach in the middle overs as the reason behind their loss and instead asserted that the Green Shirts were 10 runs short of a defendable total.

“I don’t think it [slow run-rate during the middle overs] made much of a difference because we had caught up. You can say we were 10 runs short,” said Azam.

“Unfortunately, we had a bit of a setback with Rizwan [injury] because it wasn’t easy for new batsmen but I think Shadab recovered well and had an outstanding partnership with Irfan. In Pindi, 180-190 is a par score. In batting, we did well.”

For the unversed, Mark Chapman’s swashbuckling unbeaten half-century powered New Zealand to a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the third T20I here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

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Chapman carried his bat all the way through and guided New Zealand over the line on the second delivery of the penultimate over.

He remained the top-scorer for New Zealand with an unbeaten 87 off 42 deliveries. His match-winning knock featured nine boundaries and four sixes.

With the five-match series squared off at 1-1, both teams will now travel to Lahore where the last two T20Is will be played on April 25 and 27 respectively.

Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haseebullah (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

New Zealand squad:

Michael Bracewell (c), Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi.

READ: Haseebullah replaces Azam Khan in Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is

LAHORE: Wicketkeeper batter Haseebullah Khan on Sunday, replaced Azam Khan in Pakistan’s squad for the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand.

“The national selection committee has announced wicketkeeper/batter Haseebullah as the replacement player for Azam Khan, who was sidelined from the T20I series against New Zealand due to a tear in his right calf muscle, stated PCB in a brief press release.

According to the details, Haseebullah will join the Pakistan team after the third T20I and will be available for selection in the remaining two T20Is, scheduled to be played in Lahore on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

The 21-year-old Haseebullah made his sole T20I appearance against New Zealand earlier this year.

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For the unversed, Azam Khan, who missed the first T20I due to discomfort in his right knee and right calf muscle, was subsequently ruled out of the entirety of the series on Saturday.

“Azam Khan has been advised to undergo a 10-day rest following radiology reports confirming a Grade One tear of his right calf muscle,” stated PCB.

“Consequently, Azam will be unable to participate in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, which culminates in Lahore on April 27,” the statement added.

Notably, the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand is squared off at 1-1 after Mark Chapman’s astonishing knock powered the visitors to a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the third T20I.

Pakistan squad for New Zealand T20Is

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Haseebullah (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

READ: Chapman stars as New Zealand stun Pakistan to keep series alive

RAWALPINDI: Mark Chapman’s swashbuckling half-century powered New Zealand to beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the third T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Set to chase 179, New Zealand comfortably chased down the total for the loss of just three wickets and 10 balls to spare, courtesy of a sensational knock by Chapman.

Tim Seifert and Tim Robinson gave a decent start to New Zealand as they added 42 runs for the first wicket before both perished in quick succession inside the batting powerplay.

Seifert scored 21 off 16 while Robinson made a 19-ball 28 with the help of five boundaries.

Coming out to bat at No.4, Mark Chapman denied Pakistan a comeback with belligerent hitting.

The left-handed batter put together a one-sided 117-run partnership with Dean Foxcroft, who perished in the 18th over after scoring an anchoring 31 off 29 deliveries.

Chapman, however, carried his bat all the way through and guided New Zealand over the line on the second delivery of the penultimate over.

He remained the top-scorer for New Zealand with an unbeaten 87 off 42 deliveries. His match-winning knock featured nine boundaries and four sixes.

For Pakistan, Abbas Afridi bagged two wickets while Naseem could pick up one.

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Put into bat first, Pakistan racked up 178/4 in the allotted 20 overs, courtesy of a blistering cameo at the backend by Shadab.

Earlier, openers Babar Azam and Saim Ayub scripted a solid start for the home side, notching up 54 runs in the batting powerplay.

Saim, who was the core aggressor of the opening stand, fell victim to Ish Sodhi after a brisk knock.

He smashed five boundaries and a six on his way to a 22-ball 32.

His dismissal halted the flow of runs for Pakistan as only 30 runs came off the next overs.

The dire need to accelerate took a toll on Babar as he too, fell victim to Sodhi, in an attempt to play a big shot.

He scored 37 off 29 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and a six.

Pakistan then lost two more batters Mohammad Rizwan — retired hurt — and Usman Khan in quick succession, resulting in them slipping to 103/3 in 12.5 Overs.

But a sensational partnership between Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi and Shadab Khan bolstered the team’s total.

The duo added 62 off 34 deliveries before Shadab perished in the penultimate over.

He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a quickfire 41 off 20 deliveries which featured four boundaries and two sixes.

Meanwhile, Irfan stood his ground firm and carried his bat all the way through with an unbeaten 30 off 20 deliveries.

Sodhi led the bowling charge for New Zealand with two wickets while Duffy and Michael Bracewell made one scalp each.

Both teams will now travel to Lahore where the last two T20Is will be played on April 25 and 27 respectively.

PLAYING XIs

RAWALPINDI: Mark Chapman’s swashbuckling half-century powered New Zealand to beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the third T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

NZ 179/3 (18.2 Overs)

Shaheen bowls the penultimate over

NZ 176/3 (18 Overs)

Abbas bowls his third

NZ 168/2 (17 Overs)

Abrar returns for his last

NZ 158/2 (16 Overs)

Naseem replaces Shadab

NZ 135/2 (15 Overs)

Shaheen comes back into the attack

NZ 118/2 (14 Overs)

Shadab comes back

NZ 108/2 (13 Overs)

Abrar replaces Abbas

NZ 101/2 (12 Overs)

Iftikhar continues

NZ 90/2 (11 Overs)

Abbas replaces Shadab

NZ 80/2 (10 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed replaces Abrar

NZ 75/2 (9 Overs)

Shadab continues

NZ 66/2 (8 Overs)

Abrar replaces Naseem

NZ 58/2 (7 Overs)

Shadab Khan brought into the attack

NZ 53/2 (6 Overs)

Naseem replaces Abrar

NZ 42/1 (5 Overs)

Abbas Afridi comes on

NZ 33/0 (4 Overs)

Abarar Ahmed comes into the attack

NZ 27/0 (3 Overs)

Shaheen continues

NZ 14/0 (2 Overs)

Naseem Shah bowls from the other end

NZ 4/0 (1 Over)

Tim Robinson and Tim Seifert come out to open the innings for New Zealand. Shaheen Shah Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs NEW ZEALAND (2nd INNINGS)

RAWALPINDI: All-rounder Shadab Khan and opener Saim Ayub played blistering knocks to propel Pakistan to a formidable total against New Zealand in the third T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

PAK 178/4 (20 Overs)

Foulkes bowls the final over

PAK 168/4 (19 Overs)

Duffy bowls the penultimate over

PAK 163/3 (18 Overs)

O’Rourke bowls his last

PAK 153/3 (17 Overs)

Bracewell comes for his last

PAK 134/3 (16 Overs)

Duffy replaces Foulkes

PAK 124/3 (15 Overs)

Sodhi bowls his last

PAK 118/3 (14 Overs)

Foulkes bowls his third

PAK 105/3 (13 Overs)

Sodhi replaces Bracewell

PAK 101/2 (12 Overs)

O’Rourke replaces Duffy

PAK 90/2 (11 Overs)

Bracewell replaces Sodhi

PAK 84/1 (10 Overs)

Duffy comes back

PAK 75/1 (9 Overs)

Sodhi continues

PAK 67/1 (8 Overs)

O’Rourke replaces Bracewell

PAK 61/1 (7 Overs)

Ish Sodhi comes into the attack

PAK 54/0 (6 Overs)

Bracewell continues

PAK 45/0 (5 Overs)

William O’Rourke comes on

PAK 38/0 (4 Overs)

Michael Bracewell comes into the attack

PAK 32/0 (3 Overs)

Foulkes continues

PAK 22/0 (2 Overs)

Jacob Duffy bowls from the other end

PAK 6/0 (1 Over)

Babar Azam and Saim Ayub come out to open for Pakistan. Zakary Foulkes bowls the first over.

PAKISTAN vs NEW ZEALAND (1st INNINGS)

RAWALPINDI: New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan in the third T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

PLAYING XIs

READ: Mohammad Rizwan goes past Babar, Kohli to set major record in T20Is

RAWALPINDI: New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan in the third T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

PLAYING XIs

READ: Mohammad Rizwan goes past Babar, Kohli to set major record in T20Is

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan on Saturday, added another feather to his cap by breaking a long-standing T20I record, jointly held by Babar Azam and India’s star batter Virat Kohli.

During the second T20I against New Zealand here, Mohammad Rizwan became the fastest batter to score 3000 runs in T20Is, surpassing his national team captain Babar and India’s Kohli.

Kohli and Azam are the joint-fastest to score 3000 runs in T20I cricket, taking 81 innings each, followed by Australia’s Aaron Finch who took 98 innings.

The wicket-keeper batter amassed this record in 79 innings, with his match-winning 45-run knock against the Blackcaps in Saturday’s match.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam is closing in on Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs in T20I cricket. Azam has scored 3,698 runs in T20I cricket and is third among the highest run-scorers in the format.

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Kohli tops the list with 4,037, followed by his teammate Rohit Sharma, who has amassed 3,974 runs.

Azam needs 340 runs in five games to become the highest-scorer as well as the second batter to surpass the 4000-run mark in T20I cricket.

It is pertinent to mention here that a combined bowling effort by Pakistan bowlers, followed by Mohammad Rizwan’s composed innings crushed New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium.

Chasing a meagre 91-run target, Pakistan successfully chased the total in 12.1 overs when Rizwan hit Cole McConchie for a boundary over square leg.

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

New Zealand squad

Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi, Tom Blundell, Zak Foulkes.

READ: Bowlers wreak havoc as Pakistan crush New Zealand in 2nd T20I

LAHORE: Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Azam Khan has been ruled out of the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand due to injury in his right calf muscle, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday.

“Azam Khan has been advised to undergo a 10-day rest following radiology reports confirming a Grade One tear of his right calf muscle,” the PCB said in a statement.

Consequently, the PCB said the right-handed batter will be unable to participate in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, which culminates in Lahore on April 27.

Azam will now depart from the Pakistan men’s cricket team and report to the National Cricket Academy, where he will commence his rehabilitation process under the supervision of the PCB medical panel.

The discomfort in Azam’s right calf was first noticed during batting practice in the pre-first T20I training session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

For the unversed, the highly-anticipated first T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand was called off due to persistent rain here.

Only a two-ball action was possible at the picturesque Pindi Cricket Stadium as the rain returned after Shaheen Shah Afridi’s early wicket.

As soon as it started raining again, the on-field umpires shook hands with the players and decided to call off the match.

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

New Zealand squad

Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi, Tom Blundell, Zak Foulkes.

READ: Shahid Afridi reacts to Rohit Sharma’s Pakistan-India Test comment

RAWALPINDI: A combined bowling effort by Pakistan bowlers, followed by Mohammad Rizwan’s composed innings crushed New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

PAK 92/3 (12.1 Overs)

Cole McConchie replaces Sears

PAK 88/3 (12 Overs)

Sodhi to bowl his third

PAK 85/3 (11 Overs)

Sear continues

PAK 79/3 (10 Overs)

Sodhi continues

PAK 68/3 (9 Overs)

Sears returns to the attack

PAK 60/3 (8 Overs)

7.1: Sodhi lures Usman with the bait and he bites it. Usman was looking to go downtown and got beaten by the searing wrong’un.

Ish Sodhi replaces Duffy

PAK 56/2 (7 Overs)

Bracewell continues to bowl

PAK 48/2 (6 Overs)

Jacob Duffy returns

PAK 41/2 (5 Overs)

4.5: Babar skips down the track and plays down the wrong line, gets stumped. It was a half-tracker outside off at a quicker pace. Babar Azam premeditated and was adamant on coming down to plonk him in the V but got beaten comprehensively.

Michael Bracewell replaces Lister

PAK 30/1 (4 Overs)

Ben Sears comes onto the bowl

PAK 13/1 (3 Overs)

Lister continues

PAK 12/1 (2 Overs)

Jacob Duffy to bowl the second over

PAK 8/1 (1 Over)

0.2: Back of a length awkward zone straightening at the middle, Saim tries to clip it away off his hip and ends up getting a leading edge to Lister who takes a well-judged diving catch

Saim Ayub and Babar Azam came out to open the innings for Pakistan. Ben Lister to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs NEW ZEALAND (2nd Innings)

A combined bowling effort by Pakistan bowlers bundled a helpless New Zealand side for a meagre 90 in the second T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

NZ 90 (18.1 Overs)

18.1: Shaheen Afridi wrecked the stumps! Round the wicket angle, spears in a magnificent yorker, angled in lulling him into a false sense of security before moving it away and demolishing him with a searing yorker.

NZ 90/9 (18 Overs)

17.4: Good length on sixth stump line, tries to go up and over mid-off but Ben Sears can’t control his bat swing and mistimed it to Babar who pockets with tremendous ease.

Naseem Shah to bowl his last over

NZ 84/8 (17 Overs)

Amir returns

NZ 79/8 (16 Overs)

15.6: Shadab saw Sodhi advancing and pulled his length further back. The ball hits his thigh pad and misses it completely. No spike on the ultraedge as the ball passes the bat, pitching in line, impact in line and hitting low at middle.

Shadab Khan changes end

NZ 76/7 (15 Overs)

14.5: That’s a stunning yorker and a difficult angle to negotiate with. The seam was upright and landed in that blockhole, with brilliant accuracy.

Shaheen Afridi returns

NZ 73/6 (14 Overs)

Naseem Shah returns to the attack

NZ 65/6 (13 Overs)

Abrar Ahmed to bowl his last

NZ 65/6 (12 Overs)

Shadab Khan flummoxes Bracewell with a quicker one on a short length at the middle, he inverses his stance and looks to clear short third but finds Naseem Shah who lunged forward to take a fabulous catch.

Shadab Khan continues

NZ 59/5 (11 Overs)

Abrar Ahmed to bowl his third

NZ 56/5 (10 Overs)

Shadab Khan into the attack

NZ 50/5 (9 Overs)

8.3: 73 km/h and Neesham couldn’t resist the temptation, went hard at it and found Shadab Khan at short midwicket who gobbled it down his throat.

8.1: Chapman goes full on middle, slogged away insolently but it goes straight into the hands of Saim Ayub at deep square who pouches it gleefully.

Abrar Ahmed continues

NZ 49/3 (8 Overs)

Iftikhar Ahmed replaces Amir

NZ 42/3 (7 Overs)

Abrar Ahmed to bowl his first over

NZ 35/3 (6 Overs)

5.4: Foxcroft tries to break the shackles but ends up losing his wicket, the bat is turned in his hand and Babar Azam takes a few steps back and reverses cupping it calmly into his hands.

Amir continues

NZ 29/2 (5 Overs)

Naseem Shah replaces Afridi

NZ 23/2 (4 Overs)

3.2: Pace-off length ball outside off and Robinson looks strained at the off-stump, pushing at it with minimal timing, came off the toe-end and it’s a regulation catch for Iftikhar Ahmed at short cover.

Mohammad Amir introduced to attack

NZ 21/1 (3 Overs)

2.1: Pitched on a length on an awkward off-stump line, Seifert hurriedly pushed at it and the ball popped up, Shadab hunted it down in a jiffy.

Shaheen Afridi continues

NZ 16/0 (2 Overs)

Naseem Shah to bowl the second over

NZ 5/0 (1 Over)

Tim Seifert and Tim Robinson came out to open the innings for New Zealand. Shaheen Afridi to bowl the first over.

PAKISTAN vs NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings)

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bowl first against New Zealand in the second T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed.

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New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 40, Pakistan 21, New Zealand 17, NR 2

READ: Shahid Afridi reacts to Rohit Sharma’s Pakistan-India Test comment

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bowl first against New Zealand in the second T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed.

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New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi

HEAD TO HEAD

Matches 40, Pakistan 21, New Zealand 17, NR 2

READ: Rawalpindi’s weather update ahead of second Pakistan-New Zealand T20I