Zaman leads Pakistan to series-levelling win against New Zealand

Opener's 50 off 28 helps Men in Green register 48-run victory in second of three-match series


Azeem Siddiqui January 25, 2018
Fakhar Zaman was named player of the match for his quick-fire 50. PHOTO: AFP

Left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman’s sublime knock helped Pakistan register their first win on the tour of New Zealand as Sarfraz Ahmed’s men beat the hosts in the second T20I by 48 runs to level the three-match series 1-1 in Auckland on Friday.

After opting to bat first, Zaman, with his new opening partner Ahmad Shahzad posted 94 runs for the first wicket to set things up nicely for the visitors.

Both openers then departed in the space of three deliveries, however Pakistan captain Sarfraz joined young Babar Azam and put together a 91-runs partnership for the third wicket to help the Men in Green score 201-4 in 20 overs.

Zaman scored his maiden half-century in the 20-over format and finished the innings with joint top score of 50 off 28 including five fours and three sixes.

Young Babar, who had a horrid ODI series, also scored 50 not out off 29 balls with the help of five fours and one maximum.

For New Zealand, all-rounder Ben Wheeler was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed two wickets.

In reply, New Zealand looked like a shadow of the side which had been dominating the ODI and T20I series till now, courtesy sublime bowling performances from all Pakistani bowlers, who chipped in with wickets at regular intervals.

The Black Caps were eventually bowled out for 153 in the 19th over. Mitchell Santner finished the innings with the top score of 37 off 28, while Wheeler scored 30 off 20 balls.

For Pakistan, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf claimed three scalps, whereas pacer Mohammad Amir and leg-spinner Shadab Khan claimed two wickets each.

For his outstanding batting performance, Zaman was named player of the match.



So that's it from us today. That was an exceptional performance from team Pakistan who managed to finally register their first win on the tour. Which sets it up nicely for the grand finale on Sunday, for which we will join you once again. Till then, it's goodbye from Azeem Siddiqui.



NZ 153 (18.3 overs)

OUT! And that's it. Pakistan register their first victory on the tour.



Ashraf to bowl his final over.



NZ 153-8 (18 overs)

Eight runs and a wicket off the over.



Amir to start his final over.



NZ 145-7 (17 overs)

Ten off the over.



Hasan to bowl his final over.



NZ 135-7 (16 overs)

Eleven off the over

FOUR! A lucky one for Santner, but he will take it.

FOUR! Glorious boundary from Santner over deep extra cover.

Rumman Raees to start his third over.



NZ 124-7 (15 overs)

Ten runs and a wicket off the over.



FOUR! Another impressive boundary from Wheeler.

Hasan Ali to start his new over.



NZ 114-6 (14 overs)

Ten off the over.



Mohammad Amir to start his new over.



NZ 104-6 (13 overs)

Sixteen off the over. Great one for New Zealand.



Shadab to start his final over.



NZ 88-6 (12 overs)

Eight off the over.

Hasan Ali to start his second over.



NZ 80-6 (11 overs)

Just six off the over.

Shadab to start his new over.



NZ 74-6 (10 overs)

Eight off the over.

Ashraf to start his new over.



NZ 66-6 (9 overs)

Eight runs and a wicket off the over. Another good one for Pakistan.



SIX! De Grandhomme goes big against the leg-spinner. Top shot.

Shadab to start his second over.



NZ 58-5 (8 overs)

Just two runs and a wicket off the over. Great one for Pakistan.



Ashraf to start his second over.



NZ 56-4 (7 overs)

Seven runs and a wicket off the over. Great one for Pakistan.



Shadab Khan to start his first over.



NZ 49-3 (6 overs)

Just three runs and a wicket off the over. Great one for the Men in Green.



Hasan Ali to start his new over.



NZ 46-3 (5 overs)

Sixteen off the over. Great one for New Zealand.

FOUR BYES! Another lucky one for the Black Caps.



FOUR! Lucky for Bruce, but New Zealand will take it.

Faheem Ashraf to start his first over.



NZ 30-2 (4 overs)

Five runs and a wicket off the over. Great one for Pakistan.



Raees to start his second first over.



NZ 25-1 (3 overs)

Nine off the over and a wicket. Good one for Pakistan.





Amir to start his second over.



NZ 16-0 (2 overs)

Eleven off the over.

FOUR! Guptill hits his first boundary of the innings.

Rumman Raees to start his first over.



NZ 5-0 (1 over)

Just five off the over. Good start for Pakistan.



Welcome back. So it's Martin Guptill and Colin Munro to open for New Zealand, whereas Mohammad Amir will start for Pakistan.



So that's it from the first half. Join us for the second half in 15 minutes time.



PAK 201-4 (20 overs)

Eleven off the over. Good one for Pakistan.

FOUR! Babar completes his half-century with a stunning boundary off the final delivery.



Boult to bowl the final over of the innings.



PAK 190-4 (19 overs)

Nine runs and a two wickets off the over.







Wheeler to start his final over.


PAK 181-2 (18 overs)

Twelve off the over. Another good one for Pakistan.



Rance to start his final over.



PAK 169-2 (17 overs)

Nineteen off the over. Another great one for Pakistan.





Sodhi to start his final over.



PAK 150-2 (16 overs)

Thirteen off the over. Great one for Pakistan.





Boult to start his new over.



PAK 137-2 (15 overs)

Just seven off the over.

Sodhi to start his new over.

PAK 130-2 (14 overs)

Nine off the over. Good one for Pakistan.



Wheeler to start his new over.



PAK 121-2 (13 overs)

Thirteen off the over. Great one for Pakistan.





De Grandhomme to start his new over.



PAK 108-2 (12 overs)

Eight off the over.

Santner to start his new over.



PAK 100-2 (11 overs)

Just six runs and a wicket off the over. Another good one for New Zealand.



Colin de Grandhomme to start his first over.



PAK 94-1 (10 overs)

Eight runs and a wicket off the over.







Rance to start his third over.



PAK 86-0 (9 overs)

Just three off the over.

Sodhi to continue.



PAK 83-0 (8 overs)

Twenty two off the over. The best one for team Pakistan.





Mitchell Santner to start his first over.



PAK 61-0 (7 overs)

Just four off the over.

Ish Sodhi to start his first over.



PAK 57-0 (6 overs)

Thirteen off the over. Another brilliant one for Pakistan.





Wheeler to start his second over.



PAK 44-0 (5 overs)

Fourteen off the over. Great one for Pakistan.







Rance to start his second over.



PAK 30-0 (4 overs)

Five off the over.



Ben Wheeler to start his first over.



PAK 25-0 (3 overs)

Seven off the over.



Boult to start his new over.



Meanwhile, some important information from Auckland.





PAK 18-0 (2 overs)

Twelve off the over. Great one for Pakistan.





Seth Rance to start his first over.



PAK 6-0 (1 over)

Six off the over.





So it's Ahmad Shahzad and Fakhar Zaman to open for Pakistan, whereas Trent Boult will start for the Black Caps.



Toss: The news from the centre is Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has won the toss and decided to bat first.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ