New Zealand Vs Pakistan 2nd T20 Highlights: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 21 runs in the second T20I of the ongoing five-match series in Hamilton on Sunday, January 14. The Kane Williamson-led New Zealand team successfully defended a total of 194 runs, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the T20I series.
New Zealand overcame the loss of its captain in an innings that faltered late to beat Pakistan by 21 runs in the second Twenty20 International on Sunday, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
New Zealand Vs Pakistan 2nd T20 Highlights: New Zealand Innings
The Black Caps failed to build on the foundation of the first half of its innings, making 194 for eight batting first after being 111 for one at the end of 10 overs. The batting slump followed captain Kane Williamson retiring hurt after 10 overs with a tight hamstring.
Williamson is making a managed return from a serious knee injury and New Zealand would fear any setback to his rehabilitation. But while he didn’t field, Williamson was still padded up and apparently prepared to bat at the end of the New Zealand innings.
Pakistan skipper Shaheen Afridi won the toss and opted to bowl first in the second match. The visitors retained the same lineup from the previous match, while the hosts made one change. Mitchell Santner returned to the team.
Finn Allen’s 74 from 41 balls set a cracking pace early on in the New Zealand innings. Allen put on 59 in 5.1 overs with Devon Conway (20) for the first wicket and 52 in 4.9 overs with Williamson before the Kiwi captain retired hurt on 26.
The innings began to falter, and New Zealand lost three for 35 between the 11th and 16th overs. Allen was out at 137 for two, then Daryl Mitchell fell at 147 and Mark Chapman followed at 157 as the innings trended sharply downwards.
Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, concluding with impressive figures of 3/38 in four overs. Abbas Afridi bagged two wickets for Pakistan, while Aamer Jamal and Usama Mir each took one at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Also Read: Ind Vs Eng Test 2024: Squad, Date and Venue, Head to Head, Streaming
New Zealand Vs Pakistan 2nd T20 Highlights: Pakistan Innings
In response, Pakistan struggled at 11/2 after two overs, losing openers Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan inside two overs. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman stabilized the run chase by registering half-centuries. However, Milne broke the partnership by dismissing Fakhar, who scored 50 runs off 23 balls, including three fours and five sixes. But he was out at that score and the onus once again fell on Babar to guide Pakistan home.
New Zealand Vs Pakistan 2nd T20 Highlights, Babar followed his 31st T20 International half-century with his 32nd on Sunday, again as the bulwark of the Pakistan batting. But he fell for 66 to the first ball of the 18th over when Pakistan was 153 for five, needing 42 from the last 18 balls.
The visiting team lost wickets at regular intervals and was bowled out for 173 in 19.3 overs. Babar Azam scored 66 runs off 43 balls, featuring two maximums and seven boundaries. Adam Milne emerged as the key performer with the ball for the Kiwis, claiming figures of 4/33. Tim Southee, Ben Sears, and Ish Sodhi secured two wickets each.
In the absence of Kane Williamson, Tim Southee took charge as the stand-in captain. Southee praised the team’s performance, acknowledging Finn Allen and Kane’s contributions with the bat. He highlighted the efforts of bowlers like Milne, Sears, and Ish Sodhi.