The do or die match flexed in Pakistan’s way as the team showed cheerful performance clinching the match by 48 runs.
Pakistan totally dominated and outclassed the hosting team as the visitors performed exceptional in all three departments of game.
The visiting team got its senses back as the dismal run of games finally ended and Pakistan got the taste of victory.
Toss & Pitch
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and decided to bat first. The Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson also made the comeback to the team after being left out in the first match due to injury.
1st Innings
The team in Green didn’t prove Sarfraz’s decision of batting first wrong at all. Pakistani batting was rock solid and aggressively attacking throughout the first innings.
Both openers gave the team an ideal start as Ahmed Shehzad made his way back to the playing XI. Fakhar Zaman played a blistering innings of 50 runs off just 29 balls to put Pakistan en-route a massive total.
Ahmad Shehzad also proved his selection in the team right by scoring 44 runs at a strike rate of 129.41. Babar Azam in the middle order continued the momentum built by openers by scoring a quickfire innings of 50 runs playing only 29 balls.
Azam remained not out as New Zealand bowlers failed to slow him and break him.Wicket keeper batsman and captain Pakistan team also played a great knock scoring quick 41 runs in the process.
Via Cricinfo
Pakistan didn’t let New Zealand bowlers settle and cat pace as they started hammering them right from the beginning. Wheeler managed to scalp two Pakistani batsmen but conceded 36 runs in his quota of four overs.
2nd Innings
A massive target in sights, New Zealand were under pressure right from the start. New Zealand’s top and middle order collapsed miserably with only three batsmen managing to get in to double figures out of top 6.
Guptill played a steady innings of 26 runs off 27 balls before handing a catch to Umar Amin against Shadab Khan’s spinning fingers.
The Black Caps captained got out on a golden duck as he made a comeback that he will want to forget.
The lower-middle order showed resistance to an incredible bowling attack but eventually surrendered in front of Green Shirts. Only Santer and Wheeler managed good runs scoring 37 and 30 runs respectively.
Via Cricinfo
Muhammad Amir and Shadab were top-notch while defending a massive target as the duo got 2 wickets each to cripple New Zealand. However pick of the bolwers from Pakistan side was Faheem Ashraf who sent 3 New Zealand batsmen to the pavilion.
The spinner wrapped New Zealand batting in his 3rd delivery of 4th over giving away only 27 runs.
Awards
Fakhar Zaman won the Player of the Match Award for his half century as Pakistan leveled the series 1-1.
The 3rd and final series decider match will be played on Sunday January 28th.
