Pakistan Avoids T20 Whitewash with Convincing Victory Over New Zealand
Pakistan secured a 42-run victory against New Zealand in the final T20I match, preventing a whitewash in the series that New Zealand had dominated with a 4-1 lead. The match, held in Christchurch, showcased a commendable performance by Pakistan, particularly in their bowling attack.
New Zealand’s Series Dominance:
New Zealand had asserted their dominance in the series by winning the first four matches convincingly. However, the fifth match proved to be a different story as Pakistan fought back, showcasing resilience and determination.
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Pakistan Avoids t20 whitewash with Bowling Brilliance:
Chasing a target of 135 runs, New Zealand found themselves in a precarious position at 53-2. However, Pakistan’s bowlers, led by off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed, orchestrated a remarkable collapse, restricting New Zealand to 92 runs in 17.2 overs. Iftikhar Ahmed emerged as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-24 in four overs, while Captain Shaheen Afridi and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz contributed with two wickets each.
New Zealand’s Batting Collapse:
Despite being at 53-2 at one stage, New Zealand suffered a significant batting collapse, getting bowled out within 20 overs and gave a successful chance to Pakistan to avoid T20whitewash. Glenn Phillips, the top-scorer for the home side with 26 runs in 22 balls, couldn’t steer New Zealand to a successful chase.
Pakistan’s Batting Struggles:
Winning the toss, Pakistan struggled to build a substantial innings, limping to 134-8. The team faced regular setbacks as they grappled with the disciplined bowling display from New Zealand. Seamers Tim Southee, Matt Henry, and Lockie Ferguson, along with spinner Ish Sodhi, claimed two wickets each, putting Pakistan in a challenging position.
Southee’s Early Impact:
Tim Southee, the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket, set the tone for New Zealand by starting the game with a maiden over and dismissing debutant Haseebullah Khan. Southee returned in the 13th over to remove the dangerous Fakhar Zaman, who had shown early promise with a quick 33 off 16 balls.
Pakistan’s Top Performers:
Despite the challenges, Pakistan’s top-scorer, Mohammad Rizwan, made a significant contribution with 38 runs off 38 balls. However, Rizwan’s departure marked a turning point, and the team ended up with the lowest first-innings score in the series.
Babar Azam’s Struggles:
Key batter Babar Azam, who had been a crucial player for Pakistan, faced difficulties in this match. He managed only 13 runs off 24 balls and was dropped twice by Mark Chapman, reflecting his struggles against the disciplined New Zealand bowling attack.
Team Changes:
Both teams made strategic changes to their line-ups. Pakistan made three changes to the team that suffered a defeat in the previous game, with Haseeb Ullah Khan opening the batting and the inclusion of legspinner Usama Mir and seamer Abbas Afridi. New Zealand brought back allrounder Rachin Ravindra, replacing Daryl Mitchell, and legspinner Ish Sodhi took the place of pace bowler Adam Milne.
Conclusion:
In a series dominated by New Zealand, Pakistan’s avoids T20 whitewash due to convincing victory in the final T20I provided a silver lining for the visitors. The match showcased the resilience of the Pakistani team, particularly in their bowling department, as they avoided a whitewash. The series, though challenging for Pakistan, highlighted areas for improvement and offered valuable insights as both teams look ahead to future competitions.
Amjad Mustafa, the owner and author of Keen2Know, is a highly qualified individual with strong experience in technical engineering. He is an experienced professional with a variety of business, technology, and car knowledge. His academic background prepared him for a diverse career and established him as a prominent figure at the intersection of these rapidly evolving industries.
