ISLAMABAD: A combo of fast and spin bowling from the Green Shirts restricted the Black Caps to 90 runs all-out in the second T20 contest of the five T20 series between Pakistan and New Zealand being played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium here on Saturday. Earlier winning the toss Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam invited New Zealand to bat first.
Both Kiwi openers took a cautious start, however Shaheen struck on the first ball of his second over to remove Tim Seifert on 12 runs. In a couple of overs later, Muhammad Amir who registered his comeback after a long time managed to grab two quick wickets.
First, he dismissed the second opener Tim Robinson on four and then the number three batter Dean Foxcroft on 13. At the stage, New Zealand came under pressure and were 3 for 35 in 5.4 overs.
After two quick wickets of Amir, the spinners Iftikhar, Ibrar Ahmad and Shadab took the charge. At the stage, Ibrar Ahmad’s double strike took the Black Caps into the defensive. He first got rid of Mark Chapman on 19 and then removed the inform James Neesham on just 1 run. At the stage, Kiwis were 5 for 50 in 8.3 overs.
On the first ball of the 12th over Naseem Shah took a stunning catch off the skipper Michael Bracewell on the bowling of Shadab. Later Cole McConchie showed a little resistance, however, in the 15th over he was bowled out by Shaheen on 15. The next was Ish Sodhi, being dismissed by Shadab as LBW ON 8.
At the stage, Kiwis were 79 for 8 in 16 overs. The tail added a few runs to the total. New Zealand were all out on 90 in 18.1 overs.
From Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets. Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir and Abrar Ahmed grabbed two wickets each while Naseem Shah got one wicket.
Pakistan Squad
Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand Squad
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
