Pakistan did look in a bit of danger at 87-5 but a 48-run stand between Asif Ali and Shoaib Malik ensured that the team got over the line.
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An outstanding partnership between veteran batter Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali saw Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets in the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The men in green went to the top of their group after recording two victories in as many games. The Kiwis were put in to bat first and they scored 134-8 in 20 overs. Pakistan scored 135-5 in 18.4 overs to clinch two points. There was a point when the team looked like it was in a bit of danger at 87-5 but a 48-run stand between Asif and Malik ensured that the team got over the line.
Pakistan had a good start to the run-chase. Opener Mohammad Rizwan, who was simply outstanding in the match against India, played a decent knock on Tuesday. The wicketkeeper batter scored 33 runs off 34 deliveries. However, skipper Babar Azam could not perform as he was dismissed for just nine runs. Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, and Imad Wasim were unimpressive with the bat as well. All three batters were dismissed for 11 runs each.
However, the story of the chase was the partnership of Asif and Malik. Malik remained unbeaten on 26 runs off 20 deliveries while Asif remained not out on 27 off just 12 deliveries. It was the latter that really put the pressure on the Kiwis with his power hitting, and also scored the winning runs.
Despite the defeat, the New Zealand bowling attack was decent on the day. Spinner Ish Sodhi was the most effective of the lot, picking up a couple of wickets in four overs for just 28 runs.
History was made on the day by veteran pacer Tim Southee who bagged his 100th T20 international wicket. He bowled four overs and finished with figures of 1-25. Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner also picked one wicket each.
Pakistan’s bowling attack in the first innings was absolutely world-class. Rauf stole the show with his outstanding bowling ability, picking up four wickets in four overs while conceding only 22 runs. He bowled the final over of the first innings and was completely unplayable.
Shaheen Afridi continued his good form, taking one wicket and conceding 21 runs in four overs. Imad Wasim also bowled a cost-effective spell, taking one wicket for 24 runs in four overs. Mohammad Hafeez also took a wicket and conceded 16 runs in two overs.
The most memorable wicket, however, has to be New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson’s run out. Williamson was looking dangerous, and if he had stayed until the end, the Kiwis might have had a bigger score to defend. At the time, Williamson had 25 runs and attempted a quick single after pushing a Hasan Ali delivery. Devon Conway, his partner at the time, refused to go on the run. A stranded Williamson scrambled back to the crease, but Ali’s pinpoint throw hit the stumps and sent the Kiwi captain packing.
There were a number of batters among the Kiwi ranks who got off to a good start on the day. Martin Guptil and Daryl Mitchell, the openers, scored 17 and 27 runs, both off 20 balls, respectively. Before being run out, skipper Williamson scored 25 runs off 26 balls. Conway hit 27 off 24 balls, and Glenn Phillips scored 13 off 15.
