PAK vs NZ: Second-string New Zealand take 2-1 lead against Pakistan

NZ win!

Pakistan have themselves to blam as they lose by just 4 runs. As for New Zealand, they will be very happy as their second-string side take a 2-1 lead.

Pakistan 174/8 in 20
NZ 178/7 in 20

Pakistan lose quick wickets

Pakistan were sailing smoothly with Fakhar Zaman leading from the front. But with three quick wickets, Pakistan are now in a spot of bother. They need 24 more in 9 deliveries.

Pakistan 155/7 after 18.3

Fakhar Zaman hits fifty

Fakhar Zaman has kept Pakistan in the hunt with a gritty half-century. Pakistan now need 46 off 24.

Pakistan 133/4 after 16

Pakistan need 57 off 30

Fakhar Zaman has kept Pakistan in the hunt. He is closing in on a half-century and with Iftikhar Ahmed on the crease, Pakistan can chase down the 179-run target. Pakistan need 57 off 30 balls.

Pakistan 122/4 after 15

Fakahar wages lone battle!

Pakistan are 4 down and they have Fakhar Zaman on the crease. A lot was expected of Shadab Khan but he fell to Bracewell.

Pakistan 79/4 after 10

Pakistan lose quick wickets!

Pakistan have lost two quick wickets with Saim Ayub and Usman Khan falling in a span of six deliveries. William ORourke struck for a second time to remove Saim. Soon, Ben Sears dismissed Usman Khan.

Pakistan 47/3 after 6

Babar departs!

Not a good day with the bat for Babar Azam. Pakistan captain falls for just 5. William ORourke gets the big wicket. Saim Ayub and Usman Khan are on the crease.

Pakistan 24/1 after 2.4

Babar-Saim begin

Pakistan need 179 to take 2-1 lead in the series. They have their captain Babar Azam and Saim Ayub opening the innings.

NZ 178/7

New Zealand showed promise at the start but they will be disappointed with the finish. Kiwis finish with just 178/7 on an excellent pitch. Abbas Afridi bowls an excellent spell with 3/20.

Neesham & Bracewell at death

New Zealand have captain Michael Bracewell and James Neesham on the crease at the death. Kiwis need 200+ scores and Bracewell is the key.

NZ 164/4 after 18

Another wicket!

New Zealand lose another wicket and it’s Usama Mir who dismisses Foxcroft for 34. That would slow down the pace of Kiwi innings.

NZ 132/4 after 14.2

Flying Khan!

Shadab Khan flies in the air to take a wonderful catch and Iftikhar gets the wicket. It was an excellent shot but it was an excellent catch as well.

NZ 129/3 after 14

Foxcroft-Chapman take charge

Mark Chapman has joined Foxcroft and the two are going well in the middle overs. Foxcroft put his feet on the gas, smashing two sixes off Usama Mir.

NZ 113/2 after 12

Breakthrough!

Pakistan have been desperate for a wicket and it has arrived. Abbas Afridi gets the big one as Tim Robinson departs. Iftikhar Ahmed takes an excellent catch at the boundary line after Robinson tried to go for the big one.

NZ 94/2 after 10.2

Halfway through

Thanks to Tim Robinson, New Zealand are motoring along well. Robinson is batting on 51 while Foxcroft is on 8 off 11.

NZ 93/1 after 10

50 for Robinson

Tim Robinson gets to his maiden T20I fifty while Imad Wasim survives an injury scare. Pakistan are clearly on the backfoot and they need a wicket here.

NZ 90/1 after 9.2

Injury scare!

Imad Wasim misses a catch but more importantly, he is facing an injury crisis with the physio coming in. He missed the catch on his follow-through. But the hit was so powerful that it hit Wasim on the finger and then the chest. Foxcroft survives.

No dip in pace

Tom Blundell might be out but New Zealand have kept the heat on Pakistani bowlers. Tim Robinson has been the aggressor with 34 off 24 so far with Foxcroft joining him on the crease.

NZ 71/1 after 7

Blundell departs

Tom Blundell was going well and after surviving a run-out chance, he falls to Zaman Khan. It was a slower short ball and he top-edged. Usama Mir had no problem taking the catch.

NZ 56/1 after 5

Steady start

It’s an excellent pitch and the two Kiwi openers are off to a steady start. NZ are 33/0 after 3 overs.

Good start for Robinson

Tim Robinson has begun well with New Zealand scoring 14 runs off Imad Wasim’s first over.

Blundell-Robinson begin

Tom Blundell and Tim Robinson begin for New Zealand. Blundell has never hit a six in T20Is. Can he change that today? As for Pakistan, they are starting with spin. Imad Wasim is the bowler.

NZ Playing XI

Tim Robinson, Tom Blundell(w), Dean Foxcroft, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell(c), Josh Clarkson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, William ORourke

PAK Playing XI

Pakistan (Playing XI): Saim Ayub, Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan(w), Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Zaman Khan

Pakistan win toss

Babar Azam has won the toss and has opted to bowl first.

All set for action!

No Rizwan & Azam Khan

For the 4th T20I in Lahore, Pakistan will miss both wicketkeepers Azam Khan and Mohd Rizwan. Both are nursing injuries. Rizwan’s injury appears to be serious and he is likely to miss the England tour as well.

PCB on Rizwan-Irfan

PCB Medical Panel yesterday received Radiology reports of Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Irfan Khan. After reviewing the reports and in consultation with the Pakistan team management, it has been decided to rest the two players from Thursday’s and Saturday’s T20Is against New Zealand.

The two players will work on their rehabilitation with the PCB Medical Panel at NCA.