135/5 (18.4)
CR : 7.23
134/8 (20.0)
CR : 6.70
Pakistan won by 5 wickets
Player of the Match
Haris Rauf
4/22
18.3
6
T Boult to A Ali
That should be the game!! Asif Ali playing with a strike rate of 227. He has muscled it over cow corner! Banged in short and Boult pays the price. Should have gone for a yorker. Ali picks up the length early as he sits deep and pulls it towards the cow corner region. The fielder there leaps, but just couldn't get a hand on it..
18.4
2
T Boult to A Ali
Asif Ali, you are a star!!!! Carves this one through the gap and it would be enough for Pakistan. Very full around off this time, Asif stands tall and drives it past covers and into the deep before the sweeper cuts across. Two runs for Asif Ali and that is it. Pakistan win back to back games. What a game this was in the end, Shoaib Malik's experience coming into play and Asif Ali's blinder shocked New Zealand as they win by 5 wickets..
PAK won by 5 wickets
DG: And that's the end of the game and what a turnaround this has been from the Pakistan side. Pheww, we witnessed a topsy-turvy game and Pakistan managed to hold their nerves to scamper past the victory ropes with 5 wickets in hand. The star of the show was Asif Ali who played the innings of his life to steer his side home in this tricky run-chase. Pakistan have now won both their opening games and are certainly the favourites to top this group.
Chasing a modest total of 135, everyone expected Pakistan to make a mockery of this total. But my friend, lightning doesn't strike twice and that's just what happened today. The wicket was two-paced and the Pakistani openers struggled to get going. New Zealand bowled at tight line and lengths and made life difficult for the Pakistani batters.
Eventually the scoreboard pressure increased on Babar Azam who perished for just 9 runs on the board. New Zealand don't know how to give up and that was perfectly demonstrated today as they kept on taking wickets at regular intervals and tighten the screws on the scoring rate.
At one stage, Pakistan were 5 for 87 and New Zealand saw a small ray of hope. But all the hopes were killed by the dependable duo of Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali. Everyone felt Pakistan will choke under pressure, but just the complete opposite happened. Asif Ali and Malik gave some lusty blows towards the fag end of the innings to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat with 8 balls to spare. Another intriguing game and another fabulous victory for this Pakistan side led by Babar Azam. Asif Ali was the game changer with his quick-fire 12-ball 27 and was amply supported by Malik who played a perfect second fiddle.
Chasing a modest total of 135, everyone expected Pakistan to make a mockery of this total. But my friend, lightning doesn't strike twice and that's just what happened today. The wicket was two-paced and the Pakistani openers struggled to get going. New Zealand bowled at tight line and lengths and made life difficult for the Pakistani batters.
Eventually the scoreboard pressure increased on Babar Azam who perished for just 9 runs on the board. New Zealand don't know how to give up and that was perfectly demonstrated today as they kept on taking wickets at regular intervals and tighten the screws on the scoring rate.
At one stage, Pakistan were 5 for 87 and New Zealand saw a small ray of hope. But all the hopes were killed by the dependable duo of Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali. Everyone felt Pakistan will choke under pressure, but just the complete opposite happened. Asif Ali and Malik gave some lusty blows towards the fag end of the innings to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat with 8 balls to spare. Another intriguing game and another fabulous victory for this Pakistan side led by Babar Azam. Asif Ali was the game changer with his quick-fire 12-ball 27 and was amply supported by Malik who played a perfect second fiddle.
Haris Rauf has been named the Player of the Match for his bowling figures of 4/22 in his four overs.
Haris Rauf: "Thanks to the almighty. It was an all-round performance from all of us. The fans too supported us and it boosted us while we were out on the field. I have been playing for the last 2 years and we keep discussing on the field which gives us confidence. They support me very well and it helps while bowling. I liked Martin Guptill's wicket the most as the New Zealand side was going well and his wicket shifted the momentum towards us. I also would like to thank Lahore Qalandars who supported me due to which I'm here."
Most wins in T20 World Cup:-
27 - Sri Lanka
21 - Pakistan*
21 - India
27 - Sri Lanka
21 - Pakistan*
21 - India
Kane Williamson: "Yes, a bit disappointing to lose this game. At the half-way stage, we were very optimistic to make life difficult for the Pakistani batters. But things didn't go our way and credit to Pakistan, they are a really strong side. This loss is quite hard to swallow and we just didn't play well. It's clear that as soon as we missed our lengths, there was some value for our shots. This is a game of small margins and now we face India on a different venue and we have to prepare accordingly."
Babar Azam: "I am very happy, all thanks to Allah. We will that this confidence forward. It was a team effort. The spinners started it well and then Shaheen and Harif took it from there on. Our fielding was impeccable tonight. I think we gave them 10 runs too many, but it's cricket and that can happen. We lost wickets early, but I want to give credit to Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali - our finisher. Every game is crucial. We want to take it game by game and do well in all departments of the game."
That's all for the coverage of this thrilling game. But we have more World Cup matches lined up tomorrow so do join us sharp at 2:45 PM IST. Till the next time, it's a ta-ta and a goodnight from me, Anurag Dasgupta and my co-commentators, Akshay Bhide and Arjun Bhalla.