PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan faced yet another comprehensive 22-run defeat at Mohali against New Zealand after they were asked to chase a target of 181 runs.
Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat first on a pitch which looked good for batting. Man-of-the-match Martin Guptill scored 80 off 48 balls to steer his team to a big total. Ross Taylor also contributed useful 36 runs at the end of the innings.
Shahid Afridi and Muhammad Sami bagged two wicket each for Pakistan.
In their chase, Sharjeel Khan's quick-fire 47 off just 25 balls gave Pakistan a start they needed but no other batsman was able to capitalise on the start provided by the opener.
Ahmed Shehzad scored 30 off 32 balls on a pitch which played like a batting haven. Umar Akmal scored 24 off 26 balls, while Afridi played a quick 19-run cameo off just 9 balls.
Mitchell Santner and Adam Milne bagged two wickets each for New Zealand.
Post-match presentation
Kane Williamson: Guppy played a good role. We knew 180 could be difficult on any pitch. They played good cricket in the first six overs but our bowlers came back good. Our spinners have been consistent and smart. Credit to Pakistan for putting us under pressure.
Shahid Afridi: That was a chase-able total. After first six overs we didn't play well. We didn't play the spinners well. We repeated the mistakes. It is not a good thing. I think that game [against Australia] would be the last game of my career.
5 things Pakistan need to beat New Zealand
Teams
Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Irfan.
New Zealand: MJ Guptill, KS Williamson, C Munro, CJ Anderson, LRPL Taylor, GD Elliott, MJ Santner, L Ronchi, AF Milne, MJ McClenaghan, IS Sodhi.
PAK 158-5 (20 overs)
Sarfraz swings and Pakistan take one; they have been beaten by NZ by 22 runs.
Another single, 24 needed off the last ball.
Two taken by Malik.
Malik swings and misses.
Over-waist height and umpire says it is not a no-ball. Single taken.
Two off the first ball.
Adam Milne.
PAK 151-5 (19 overs)
Single to end the over. Even a monkey would swing wildly at this point; 30 needed off the last over now. Well over for Pakistan.
Another full-toss and on leg and Sarfraz just plays it casually towards square leg. Only two taken.
Mishit from Sarfraz and Pakistan take two. This match is well over for Pakistan until a miracle happens.
Malik takes a single from fine leg.
Two off a full-toss? Seriously? With so many runs needed Shoaib steers it towards square leg for a double.
Single off the first ball.
McClenaghan in for the penultimate over. Make or break for Pakistan!
PAK 142-5 (18 overs)
Sarfraz Ahmed is the new batsman... Milne follows him as he backs to play his shot. Only a single off it.
In the block hole and only a single off it by Malik.
OUT! Another full-toss and on a ball which other players hit out of the park, Umar Akmal is caught at long-on by Guptill.
Swing and a miss by Umar.
Umar faces... full-toss and the bat rotates in Umar's hands. Only two taken.
Adam Milne starts with a single off his first ball.
PAK 137-4 (17 overs)
44 off 18 now.
Last ball... Pakistan need a big one here. Only two runs off it.
Three more singles by Malik, Umar and Malik.
Two runs and a single by Umar.
Mitch McClenaghan to bowl the death overs.
PAK 129-4 (16 overs)
Six runs and an all important wicket of Shahid Afridi coming in the over. Pakistan need 52 off 24 balls.
Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal are out there for Pakistan now.
OUT! Afridi caught by Anderson at wide long-off.
Ish Sodhi.
PAK 123-3 (15 overs)
Single by Afridi off the last ball.
FOUR! Wide and Afridi cracks it towards extra cover.
Short and Umar swings and misses it. Takes a single off the next ball.
Dot followed by two runs by Umar.
McClenaghan in to stop Afridi and Umar.
PAK 115-3 (14 overs)
SIX! Short and Afridi pulls it with power over deep midwicket.
Ish Sodhi.
PAK 104-3 (13 overs)
FOUR! Afridi dances forward and goes towards extra cover.
OUT! Shehzad goes for a desperate shot and is caught by Guptill at midwicket.
Santner now.
PAK 91-2 (11 overs)
Only two runs off Santner's over.
PAK 89-2 (10 overs)
Last ball... Single from long-on to end the over.
Shehzad gets a single and Umar gets two on the next ball.
Umar steers it away for a single.
Dot and a single by Shehzad.
Grant Elliot on for his second over.
PAK 83-2 (9 overs)
Five runs and a wicket off the over.
Umar Akmal join Shehzad in the middle. Pakistan need some sensible batting here.
OUT! Khalid Latif tries to go big over long-on instead finds the fielder who waits under it and cups it.
Santner is back for his second.
PAK 78-1 (8 overs)
Only three runs off the over. Pakistan reading Sodhi before they can go all out against him.
Ish Sodhi is in now.
PAK 75-1 (7 overs)
Latif gets off the mark with a single and Shehzad brings him back with another single.
Follows it up with a double and a single.
FOUR! Cut by Shehzad towards third man boundary.
Grant Elliot introduced into the attack.
Sharjeel Khan has gone berserk with the bat. 47 off 24 so far.
— ICC (@ICC) March 22, 2016
LIVE: https://t.co/u6vHAvIEKl #NZvPAK #WT20 pic.twitter.com/NvIAr7VeYt
PAK 66-1 (6 overs)
Last ball and Latif steers it for a single.
Latif plays a dot to end the over.
Khalif Latif is the new man in... however, Shehzad is facing. He plays a dot and takes a single.
OUT! Sharjeel (47) mistimes a slog and it rises up just to fall into the hands of the fielder at point.
FOUR! Sharjeel picks it up early and smashes it towards midwicket. That beautiful sound of wood!
Single by Shehzad.
Adam Milne is back.
PAK 60-0 (5 overs)
FOUR! Off the edge and Shehzad finds the third man fence. Everything going in favour of Pakistan at the moment.
Single taken and NZ will take a sigh of relief as Shehzad comes on.
FOUR! Leg byes this time. Sharjeel receives one on the pads and the ball races down to fine leg boundary.
Sharjeel on strike now...
Dot followed by a cut toward third man for a single.
Corey Anderson is back.
PAK 51-0 (4 overs)
Last ball... THAT IS A BIGGIE! SIX! Sharjeel picks it up from length and sends it flying over midwicket.
Bowler changes his angle... Sharjeel is hit on the pads and finally a dot ball.
FOUR! Sharjeel is hitting everything towards the boundary. This time it was short and he pulled it over the head of short fine leg.
FOUR! Length ball and Sharjeel whacks it towards midwicket.
FOUR! Tad short and Sharjeel pulls it towards deep midwicket.
Rolls his fingers and Anderson beats Sharjeel.
Mitch McClenaghan has been brought on.
PAK 33-0 (3 overs)
Shehzad finds the point fielder for a dot.
Sharjeel stops and runs for a single. Shehzad went up to him on the previous ball and the message was clear in this shot: Don't waste the start.
Swing and a miss by Sharjeel.
Short and Sharjeel ducks.
FOUR! Delivered up and over short midwicket fielder.
FOUR! Sharjeel flicks it off his pads towards square leg.
Adam Milne with his pace now.
PAK 23-0 (2 overs)
Wide, leg bye, dot and a single follow.
Dot followed by two runs.
FOUR! Guided towards fine leg by Shehzad.
Corey Anderson is the second new ball bowler.
PAK 15-1 (1 over)
FOURx3! Sharjeel Khan is on fire from the word go for Pakistan.
Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad open the chase for Pakistan. Mitchell Santner will start off the proceedings for NZ with spin.
NZ 180-5 (20 overs)
Last ball... low full-toss and NZ take two. Great running by the Kiwis. Ahmed Shehzad was once again slow at long-on.
FOUR! Full and Taylor just edges it intentionally towards third man.
Taylor faces... low full-toss and two runs taken by Taylor off Ahmed Shehzad at long-off.
Short and Ronchi takes a single from fine leg.
Amir comes round the wicket... single taken by Taylor.
SIX! Straight over long-on's head. Taylor hits an 83 metre giant.
Muhammad Amir in for the last over.
NZ 164-5 (19 overs)
Ronchi faces the last ball... OUT! Full and Ronchi hits it towards Shoaib Malik at point.
Taylor again... dot and a single follow.
Taylor faces... misfield by Afridi at covers gives NZ an extra run. Two taken!
Single to start the over followed by a dot.
Muhammad Sami.
NZ 160-4 (18 overs)
Single and double to end the over.
SIX! Ronchi goes flat over long-off. Charges forward and hit it cleanly.
Taylor sends one flying into the air. Amir runs for it from square leg but isn't able to judge the flight. Three runs taken!
Ronchi takes a single from Afridi at wide mid-off.
Single taken as Taylor defends one and it jumps up for a catch for the bowler who doesn't get a hand to it.
Muhammad Irfan now.
NZ 146-4 (16 overs)
Single taken by Ronchi. And another single to end the over.
A double and a single taken by Taylor. Amir trying to find the perfect yorker.
Amir from round the stumps now... NZ steal two as Sharjeel is slow to gather and send the ball back from deep point.
FOUR! Taylor picks it up from off and goes over short fine leg's head.
Muhammad Amir to Taylor.
NZ 135-4 (16 overs)
Dot and three singles on the next balls.
Luke Ronchi is the new man in... Ross Taylor is on strike meanwhile.
OUT! Anderson holes out to Shoaib Malik at long-off.
FOUR! Anderson goes towards midwicket.
Afridi in for his last over. Starts off with a wide.
NZ 127-3 (15 overs)
Ross Taylor walks in... starts off with three dots.
Here is Guptill's wagon wheel for his impressive 50. #NZ 110/2 from 13
— ICC (@ICC) March 22, 2016
LIVE: https://t.co/u6vHAw0g8V #NZvPAK #WT20 pic.twitter.com/YI6MpCp9cw
BOWLED! Guptill pulls it onto the stumps. A great knock comes to an end.
FOUR! Slapped with power through covers by Guptill.
Muhammad Sami is back.
NZ 122-2 (14 overs)
Two taken with a soft nudge towards leg side.
FOUR! Backward point it is for Guptill.
Steals two and then plays a dot.
FOUR! Welcomed by a sweeping Guptill. This time he finds the square leg boundary.
Afridi is back for his third.
If Pak restrict them under 150 and are given two turns. Game is absolutely ours. Chill#PakvNZ
— faizan (@iPakiLad) March 22, 2016
NZ 110-2 (13 overs)
FOUR! Anderson slaps a short ball past mid-off.
Single to bring Guptill on. Another to bring back Anderson.
FOUR! Inside edge runs down to the fine leg boundary. Anderson accounts for it.
Muhammad Irfan. Dot to start the over.
NZ 100-2 (12 overs)
Two singles on the last two balls. Hundred is up for NZ.
Two for Corey as Amir dives at deep square leg to save the boundary.
Another single follows.
A double and single off the first two balls.
Imad Wasim into his last over.
NZ 93-2 (11 overs)
FOUR! Swept again but this time towards midwicket.
Dot.
FOUR! Swept by Guptill towards deep midwicket.
Guptill steals two and gets his FIFTY.
LBW appeal on Guptill but given not out. No run.
Shahid Afridi is back.
NZ 81-2 (10 overs)
Only five runs off the over.
Guptill defends the next ball.
Anderson goes for a quick single, the ball hits the non-striker end and the third umpire decision is not out.
Single by Guptill.
Imad Wasim into his third over.
NZ 76-2 (9 overs)
Corey Anderson replaces Munro... gets off the mark with a single off the last ball.
OUT! Murno goes for a switch hit and is caught at deep midwicket by Khalid Latif.
FOUR! Edge and ball runs to the third man boundary. Pakistan needed a slip here.
Munro tries to decipher Afridi and get no run.
Shahid Afridi to Munro without a slip.
NZ 69-1 (8 overs)
Munro, unlike himself, takes a single off the last ball of the over.
Short and slow, guided towards short third man for a single.
FOUR! Full and wide to Guptill. The ball takes the edge and flies towards third man.
Colin Munro is the new batsman in... starts off with a single.
OUT! Williamson caught at wide mid-off by Shahid Afridi.
Williamson gets two with a shot over mid-on's head.
Muhammad Irfan is back.
NZ 60-0 (7 overs)
Dot and a single to end the over.
Wide on off and Williamson gets two from deep covers.
Williamson finds Shahid Afridi at wide mid-off. No run.
Two singles off the first two balls.
Imad Wasim again.
NZ 55-0 (6 overs)
Dot to end the over.
FOUR! Slow ball, Guptill waits and hits it towards midwicket. Sharjeel loses the race to stop the ball.
SIX! Guptill gives himself room and goes straight again. One again it was massive.
Guptill blocks the third ball.
Dot followed by a single.
Muhammad Sami continues.
NZ 44-0 (5 overs)
SIX! Guptill connects the sweet part of the bat and goes big over long on.
Williamson plays a dot towards covers. Gets a single from long off on the next ball.
Guptill gets one from long off.
Starts with a dot. Williamson steals a single on the second ball.
Imad Wasim with his left-arm spin now.
NZ 35-0 (4 overs)
Guptill strikes it hard and Umar stops it at cover.
Single to rotate the strike.
FOUR! Sami goes leg side and Williamson just nudges it towards fine leg.
Guptill operates smartly. Steals a single from the leg side.
Sami bowls a wide to Guptill.
Quick single from Williamson from leg side.
Starts with a dot to Williamson.
Muhammad Sami is early into the attack.
NZ 27-0 (3 overs)
Amir comes round the wicket. Guptill misses a full-toss and Amir holds his head as the Kookaburra just missed the stumps.
FOUR! Edge and Guptill finds the third man fence. Lucky boundary for opener.
FOUR! Guptill steps away and cuts the ball square through off.
Amir goes leggish, bowls a wide.
Guptill respects another delivery. Blocks it.
Amir bowls a dot.
FOUR! Over mid-on and Guptill starts the over with a boundary.
Muhammad Amir again.
NZ 14-0 (2 overs)
Dot to end the over.
FOUR! Cut beautifully by Williamson.
Williamson steers it towards fine leg and bags a double.
Single taken as Williamson faces the next ball.
SIX! Guptill charges forward and goes straight over the bowler's head. It was a big and gigantic hit.
Guptill defends the first delivery towards covers.
Muhammad Irfan now.
NZ 1-0 (1 over)
Kane Williamson defends his first and over's last ball. Good over from Amir.
This time he steals a single from the covers fielder in the ring.
Another ball seams away from Guptill and he is beaten once again.
Guptill swings and misses the out-going delivery.
Another got to Guptill by Amir.
Amir starts with a dot to Guptill. He plays it towards cover who throws it back towards the non-striker's stumps.
Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson have walked out to open for NZ. Muhammad Amir is meanwhile measuring his run up. Pakistan will be relying heavily on Amir to deliver some early breakthroughs.
Shoaib Malik: "It was a tough game [against India]. Condition were tough for batting. I think 118 wasn't enough against a good batting team. We have some youngsters in our team. The way NZ is playing is exceptional. We will try to do our best."
Toss
Williamson tosses the coin and wins the toss: We are going to bat first. The wicket looks good. We are going to try and score a good total.
Shahid Afridi: It is a fresh surface. It has a bit of grass. If bowlers bowl in good areas then we can get early wickets. I told boys to not listen to anyone and focus on cricket. Hafeez and Wahab replaced by Imad Wasim and Khalid Latif.
Up next, we've got #NZvPAK. Will it be a battle of the Big-Hitters?
— ICC (@ICC) March 22, 2016
LIVE: https://t.co/u6vHAw0g8V#WT20 pic.twitter.com/Owzq7dH98q
Pitch report
Ramiz Raja: It is a typical Mohali pitch. There is a little bit of grass and it will offer seam and bounce for the pacers. 150 or 160 will be a good score on this pitch.
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