NEW DELHI: Pakistan levelled the T20I series against New Zealand with a nine-run win at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam hit a solid half-century while spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed four wickets.
Azam’s 44-ball 69 and Fakhar Zaman’s 33-ball 43 took Pakistan to 178-5 in their 20 overs before Afridi claimed 4-30 to restrict New Zealand to 169 in 19.2 overs.
Afridi gave Pakistan an ideal start by dismissing Tom Blundell for four in his first over.
Tim Seifert put New Zealand back on track with an aggressive 33-ball 52 — his ninth T20I half century containing seven boundaries and two sixes.
Seifert added 76 for the second wicket with skipper Micheal Bracewell (23) but from 81-1, New Zealand lost four wickets in the space of 25 balls for the addition of just 22 runs.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir (2-21) had Seifert and Mark Chapman (12) while fellow spinner Shadab Khan accounted for Bracewell as New Zealand’s chase was derailed.
But a highlight of Seifert’s knock came in the sixth over bowled by Mohammad Amir.
After being hit for a four on the first ball, Amir bowled a full ball wide outside off. Seifert dived to reach for the ball, swung his bat but only met thin air as the ball went for wide.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a video of the shot on their official X handle:
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam hit a solid half-century while spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed four wickets.
Azam’s 44-ball 69 and Fakhar Zaman’s 33-ball 43 took Pakistan to 178-5 in their 20 overs before Afridi claimed 4-30 to restrict New Zealand to 169 in 19.2 overs.
Afridi gave Pakistan an ideal start by dismissing Tom Blundell for four in his first over.
Tim Seifert put New Zealand back on track with an aggressive 33-ball 52 — his ninth T20I half century containing seven boundaries and two sixes.
Seifert added 76 for the second wicket with skipper Micheal Bracewell (23) but from 81-1, New Zealand lost four wickets in the space of 25 balls for the addition of just 22 runs.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir (2-21) had Seifert and Mark Chapman (12) while fellow spinner Shadab Khan accounted for Bracewell as New Zealand’s chase was derailed.
But a highlight of Seifert’s knock came in the sixth over bowled by Mohammad Amir.
After being hit for a four on the first ball, Amir bowled a full ball wide outside off. Seifert dived to reach for the ball, swung his bat but only met thin air as the ball went for wide.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a video of the shot on their official X handle:
