In T20Is at Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand has reached three of the five 200-plus totals. The hosts have only lost twice in their last 12 encounters in Hamilton since 2008, and they continued their great run at this venue by beating Pakistan by 21 runs in the second T20I to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
The pitch report and a single change in New Zealand’s team
The Seddon Park pitch was predicted to be faster and harder than the one in Auckland; according to the ground staff, it’s one of the hardest surfaces they’ve ever created, so bowlers were expected to get more bounce on this pitch.
Pakistan’s skipper, Shaheen Afridi, has won the toss and has opted to field first. The Pakistan team remained unchanged, while the lone change for New Zealand was the return of Mitchell Santner in place of Matt Henry, who had been ruled out of the opening T20I due to COVID.
Finn Allen’s stunning half-century helped New Zealand to a competitive score
New Zealand put on yet another outstanding batting display; however, they started to lose momentum in the last five overs. Although they scored plenty more in the last game in Auckland, 194 was still a respectable total on this pitch. Finn Allen and Devon Conway made an excellent 1st wicket partnership of 52 off 26 balls to set the stage, but Conway was lost by the hosts in the powerplay.
In the process, Finn Allen quickly reached to his fourth T20I fifty and continued to hit boundaries at regular intervals. Even though Usama Mir bowled him with a wrong ‘un, the attacking opener had already accomplished his objective.
Finn Allen and Kane Williamson made a good 2nd wicket partnership of 50 off 29 balls, but due to a hamstring problem, Williamson had to leave the game. The other middle-order batsmen scoring quick runs made significant contributions to help New Zealand approach the 190-run mark.
Pakistan lacks experience in its bowling attack
The best bowler for Pakistan was Haris Rauf, who delivered a terrific 19th over in which he took three wickets. While Afridi did deliver a respectable 20th over in which he gave up just 7 runs, the skipper of Pakistan went without a wicket today.
Pakistan’s bowling attack lacks experience in their bowling unit, as the other three bowlers, Abbas Afridi, Aamer Jamal, and Usama Mir, got wickets, but all three bowlers went for almost 10 runs per over.
Fakhar and Babar stitched a great partnership in the run chase
Pakistan were 10/2 as both the Pakistani openers got out early, but Fakhar, who scored a quickfire of 25 balls 50 runs to reach his 9th T20I, steadied the ship of Pakistan by forming a great partnership of 87 (49) which seemed like both these two batters would make Pakistan cross the line.
Fakhar Zaman looks to pull a short of a length and outside off bowl by Adam Milne but gets a bottom edge onto the stumps.
Babar Azam remained a lone batsman as the middle order of Pakistan collapsed again
After Fakhar’s wicket, Pakistan lost two wickets in the form of Iftikhar Ahmed and Azam Khan in quick succession to increase the trouble for the Pakistan team, the same story got repeated for the Pakistan team in the 1st T20 match because Babar continued playing his game from one end and scored some quick runs but didn’t get support from the other middle-order batsmen.
Ben Sears gets the big fish as he bowls on a length and outside off ball, and Babar Azam swings across without much conviction, so it goes high in the air and covers where Tim Southee takes the catch to seal the game for New Zealand. Adam Milne cleaned up the tail by taking two wickets in his last over to complete his spell by taking four wickets for 33 runs.
When these two teams play again on this month’s 17th, New Zealand advances to a 2-0 lead and has the opportunity to win the series.
Also Read: NZ vs PAK: New Zealand Register A Commanding Victory Over Pakistan
One thought on “NZ vs PAK: “Finn Allen And Adam Milne Shines In New Zealand’s Comfortable Win In The Second T20I””