Pakistan win over New Zealand by 5 wickets in New Zealand Bangla Tri-Series final

 Pakistan win over New Zealand by 5 wickets in New Zealand Bangla Tri-Series final…

by Muhammad Arshad Sohail

Pakistan won the triangular series final against New Zealand by five wickets on Friday, beating the hosts and ending their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 on a high note.

Pakistan went into the final of the tri-nation series on a high, beating Bangladesh a day earlier by 7 wickets in a thriller that went all the way to the end.

Chasing a target of 164 runs, Pakistan did not get off to an impressive start when Babar Azam was dismissed by Michael Bracewell for 15 runs off 14 balls. His opening partner Muhammad Rizwan formed a partnership with Shane Masood before the latter too was dismissed for 19 off 21 balls. Rizwan also retired to the pavilion after scoring 34 runs off 29 balls. Haider Ali and Mohammad Nawaz's half-century partnership sealed New Zealand's fate. Haider Ali made a much-needed 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed by Tim Southee, while Pakistan batsman Mohammad Nawaz made an unbeaten 38 off 22 balls to lift Pakistan to a five-wicket win over New Zealand with three balls to spare in the final. New Zealand Twenty20 Tri-Series.

The final swing went through both innings: New Zealand were on target for a bigger score before they faltered against Pakistan's late bowling to finish on 163-7. Pakistan started well but also faltered at times before Nawaz provided the final push for victory.

He found a reliable partner in Iftekhar Ahmed, who made 25 off 14 balls in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 36.

"I just supported myself yesterday and today based on what I did in the networks," Nawaz said. “I believed in myself and encouraged myself to go into it with a clear mind. We're looking forward to the World Cup." Pakistan struggled at times, going 26 balls between the fourth and eighth overs without being able to hit a boundary in the face of tight bowling from Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Blair Ticker. After 10 overs, Pakistan were 64- 1, which was 19 runs behind New Zealand at that stage.

Nawaz started the scoring with two fours off Ticker's bowling in the 13th over. In the 15th over Pakistan, he made 25 runs including three sixes off the bowling of Ish Sodhi which helped tip the match.

Pakistan needed 41 runs from the last five overs with seven wickets in hand. It had the upper hand when Haider Ali hit boundaries off the first two balls in the over. New Zealand fought back and claimed the wickets of Haider, who scored 31 off 15 balls, and Asif Ali (1) in quick succession.

Earlier, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson made a timely return to form with an innings of 59 off 38 balls. Williamson has recently struggled with form and has struggled with a chronic elbow injury. His previous best score in the series was 31 in New Zealand's first match against Pakistan and it was seven innings since his last score of 50.

New Zealand played without some front-line players including express bowler Lockie Ferguson and all-rounders Mitchell Santner and Daryl Mitchell.

 "It was great cricket," Williamson said. “Pakistan is a very good side and credit to the way it has changed. You always want another 20 runs but I thought the total was competitive. The wicket was on the lower side and the wind was strong on the longer side of the ground, but credit again for how Pakistan got there and changed the momentum."

 

Nawaz won the Player of the Match award while Bracewell walked away with the Player of the Series honour. "I just supported myself both days. I tried to perform what I had practiced in the nets with a clear mind,” said Nawaz.

"Batting in the middle order helped a lot, the key was to back myself and go with the plan," he added.

Earlier, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson's battling knock (59 off 38) could not save the Kiwis as the Pakistan bowlers kept the Kiwis at bay.

Pacers Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf kept the New Zealand batting at bay, finishing with figures of 2/22 and 2/38 respectively. Shahab Khan picked the important wicket of Williamson while Nawaz picked one wicket.

Former players and cricket pundits have been heavily critical of Pakistan ahead of the tri-nation series. Critics have targeted the green shirts for the lackluster performance of their middle order at the 2022 Asia Cup.

Pakistan kick off their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign next month in Australia against arch-rivals India on October 23 and so on…

Good luck to Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup.