NZ crush Pakistan in final T20, reach target in 10 overs
Cricket
James Neesham claimed a fifer
WELLINGTON (Dunya News) – Tim Siefert's blistering unbeaten 97 has helped New Zealand give crushing defeat to Pakistan in the final match of five match T20 series.
Pakistan bowlers were expensive in the final T20 as well. Jahandad Khan gave 43 runs in two overs at an economy of 21.5, Shadab Khan 33 runs in two overs at an economy of 16.5, Muhammad Ali 27 in two overs, and Haris Rauf 22 in two overs. Sufiyan Muqeem was exeptional in his two overs claiming two wickets while giving away just six runs.
Pakistani batting line failed to put a big score on the board yet again in the final T20 International of the five-match series.
New Zealand won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat first in the fifth T20I played in Wellington Regional Stadium.
Pakistan scored 128 for the loss of nine wickets as they kept losing wicketson regular intervals. Captain Salman Ali Agha continued his good form and went on to score a half century before getting out on 51. Vice-captain Shadab Khan scored 28, and Mohammad Haris scored 11.
Other than these three, no Pakistan batter was able to enter the double figure scores.
James Neesham starred with the ball as he claimed his first T20 fifer. Jacob Duffy claimed two wickets while Ish Sodhi and Ben Sears shared one wicket each.
The visitors made five changes to their playing XI, after Pakistan lost three out of four games of the series.
Shaheen Afridi, Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, and Abrar Ahmed lost their spot while Omair Bin Yousuf, Usman Khan, Jahandad Khan, and Sufiyan Muqeem have made their way into the playing XI.
Despite his poor form in domestic cricket and even after making a controversial comeback in international cricket, Shadab Khan has found a spot in fifth consecutive T20I. He continues to play the vice-captain’s role for Pakistan team.
The all-rounder has made 30 runs in last four matches and has been able to claim only one wicket at an average of 110 and an economy of 10.
Bowling coach Azhar Mahmood acknowledged that the team’s bowling unit was not performing as expected, highlighting the challenges posed by bounce and pace in New Zealand.
He praised Haris Rauf for his bowling performance and hinted at possible changes in the playing XI for the final match.
New Zealand have already secured the series with a 3-1 lead in the five-match contest.
Pakistan:
Salman Ali Agha (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Omair Bin Yousuf, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sufyan Moqim, Mohammad Ali
New Zealand:
Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitch Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, Will O'Rourke
