T20 World Cup: Green Shirts thrash NZ in important Super 12 match

Pakistan won match by five wickets. Asif Ali struck three sixes that proved to be a turning point in the game. Pakistan achieved the score in 19th over.  

Pakistan had earlier embarassed India by winning first match with historic knock.  

Earlier Pakistan restricted New Zealand to 134 for eight in T20 World Cup face off at Sharjah Cricket Ground.

Harif Rauf took a career-best four for 22 and Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali added 48 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket from 23 balls to help Pakistan defeat New Zealand by five wickets and record their second successive victory in Group-2 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Haris’s effort that was backed by accurate and precise bowling by Mohammad Hafeez, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Imad Wasim limited New Zealand to 134 for eight.

However, what looked like a straightforward run-chase turned nerve-wrecking and nail-biting after Pakistan slipped to 91 for five in 15 overs.

However, Shoaib Malik scored an unbeaten 26 off 20 balls with two fours and six, and Asif Ali struck a priceless 12-ball 27 not out with three sixes and a four to steer Pakistan home with eight balls to spare.

Asif’s performance came after he was hit on the helmet by a ferocious Tim Southee bouncer. Before being hit by Southee, Asif had slapped him for back to back sixes and then added another off Trent Boult as he not only played an international innings of his life but a knock that has strengthen Pakistan’s chances of reaching their first semi-final since 2014.

Pakistan’s next opponent is Afghanistan on Friday in Dubai, followed by matches against Namibia and Scotland on 2 and 7 November, respectively.

Mohammad Rizwan was Pakistan’s top-scorer with a 34-ball 33 with five fours, while Babar Azam scored nine and Fakhar Zaman 11, Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim 11 runs apiece.

Earlier, Babar Azam, for the second successive match, won the toss and put New Zealand into bat. Unlike India, New Zealand were off to a 36-run first stand before Haris Rauf picked up first of his four wickets by rattling the stumps of Martin Guptill (17).

Imad Wasim dismissed Daryl Mitchell (27) and Mohammad Hafeez sent Jimmy Neesham (one) as New Zealand slipped to 56 for three in the 10th over. Kane Williamson (25) and Devon Conway (27) added 34 runs for the fourth wicket before Hasan Ali’s brilliantly ran-out New Zealand captain off his own bowling.

Haris Rauf then took control of the proceedings, accounting for Convay, Glenn Philips (13) and Mitchell Santner (6) to finish with figures of 4-0-22-4, while Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up the scalp of Tim Seifert (8) as New Zealand crawled to 134 for eight.

After reaching 42 for one in the PowerPlay overs, New Zealand reached 60 for three after 10 overs and collected 34 runs off the final five overs.

Scores in brief:

New Zealand 134-8, 20 overs (Devon Conway 27, Daryl Mitchell 27, Kane Williamson 25; Haris Rauf 4-22, Mohammad Hafeez 1-16, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-21, Imad Wasim 1-24)

Pakistan 135-5, 18.4 overs (Mohamamd Rizwan 33, Asif Ali 27 not out, Shoaib Malik 26 not out)

Player of the match - Haris Rauf (Pakistan)

'Celebrations and congraulations'

Soon after win, Pakistanis present in the Dubai cricket stadium and in Pakistan celebrated the second win by dancing and distributing sweets. 

President Dr Arif Alvi Tuesday lauded the performance of Pakistani cricketers during their T20 World Cup cricket match against New Zealand, which Pakistan eventually won by five wickets.

In a tweet on social media platform Twitter, he said, “Outstanding my dear Green Shirts. You continue with your winning spree and took your disappointment of NZ cancelled tour on the ground. Excellent performance by Haris Rauf with the ball & then Asif Ali with the bat at the end who made sure of our win.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated the team for winning the game. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardai also sent conrgraulations to Green Shirts.  

پاکستان نے بھارت کے بعد کیویز کو بھی دھول چٹا دی #PakvsNz #T20WorldCup21 #GNN pic.twitter.com/2eAPZJsPy3

— GNN (@gnnhdofficial) October 26, 2021