Pakistan Beat New Zealand In Second T20I To Seal Series

Pakistan beat New Zealand by six wickets in the second T20I to register their eleventh series win in T20Is on the trot.

There is absolutely no stopping Pakistan in the shortest format of the game. Few days after thrashing Australia 3-0, the Men in Green sealed the series against New Zealand with a match to go.

Senior batsmen Mohammad Hafeez (34 not out) and Shoaib Malik (10) added 34 runs in quick time to help Pakistan chase down 154 in 19.4 overs. Batting first, New Zealand finished on a modest 153 for 7 with Colin Munro and Corey Anderson scoring 44 each.

Hafeez and Malik joined hands in the middle when the hosts needed 50 off the last five overs. Pakistan took command of the game in the 17th over when Hafeez hit two huge sixes off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. The over brought down the equation to 23 off the last three overs.

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Pakistan Beat New Zealand In Second T20I To Seal Series
Credits: AFP

Babar Azam (40) and Fakhar Zaman (25) gave Pakistan a good start by adding 40 runs in 4.3 overs. Kane Williamson ended the stand with a stunning catch to dismiss Fakar. Asif Ali (38) and Babar then shared 56 runs for the second wicket to put Pakistan well on course. Both the players departed in quick succession but Hafeez and Malik steadied the ship and eventually took their side home.

Earlier in the match, Munro lifted Imad Wasim for six off the very first ball of the match. The southpaw continued to attack as New Zealand raced to 50 without loss in just 5.3 overs.

Pakistan Beat New Zealand In Second T20I To Seal Series
Credits: AFP

But just like the last game, New Zealand’s innings fell apart once they lost their openers. Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan the first breakthrough by dismissing Glenn Phillips for 5. 6 runs later, Hafeez dismissed Munro to leave New Zealand reeling at 56 for 2. Munro hit four boundaries and two sixes off 28 balls.

Colin de Grandhomme (four) and Ross Taylor (three) fell in quick succession before Williamson (37) and Anderson added 42 for the fifth wicket. Anderson hit Hasan Ali for two boundaries and a six in the 17th over to help New Zealand add 52 in the last five overs. Shaheen Afridi starred with the ball for Pakistan, picking up 3 for 20.

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Pakistan Beat New Zealand In Second T20I To Seal Series
Credits: AFP

The third and final match will be played in Dubai on Sunday.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 153/7 in 20 overs (Corey Anderson 44*, Colin Munro 44; Shaheen Afridi 3-20) lost to Pakistan 154/4 in 19.4 overs (Babar Azam 40, Asif Ali 38; Adam Milne 2-25) by 6 wickets.

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