Captain Babar Azam has scored an unbeaten century to assist Pakistan to a different snug victory in opposition to depleted New Zealand, profitable the second Twenty20 Worldwide by 38 runs.
Babar hit 101 not out off 58 balls, anchoring Pakistan’s 4-192 after profitable the toss and selecting to bat first.
New Zealand – who’re touring Pakistan with out eight frontline gamers who’re in any other case engaged within the Indian Premier League, and the injured Kane Williamson – struggled to deal with quick bowler Haris Rauf (4-27).
Their chase ended at 7-154, leaving Pakistan to guide the five-match sequence 2-0.
“I attempted to bat until the top, make the most of the previous couple of overs and we managed to get complete,” Babar mentioned.
“Our bowling line-up is superb. We have now received expertise and a few thrilling younger bowlers.”
Babar supplied Pakistan with a brisk begin of 99 runs off 64 balls alongside Mohammad Rizwan, who made 50 off 34 earlier than the house group had a mini-collapse when the Kiwis took three fast wickets.
Quick bowler Matt Henry (2-29), whose hat trick went in useless within the first sport of the five-match sequence on Friday when Pakistan thumped New Zealand by 88 runs, dismissed Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman off successive deliveries earlier than Saim Ayub survived the hat-trick ball.
Left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra (1-22) had Pakistan at 3-102 when James Neesham held onto Saim’s slog sweep at deep sq. leg.
Babar accomplished his half-century off 36 balls however took cost within the ultimate three overs to boost his century off the subsequent 22 deliveries alongside Iftikhar Ahmed, who remained 33 not out.
Babar wanted 16 within the final over to achieve his century.
He clobbered Neesham over mid-off for a six off the third ball earlier than hitting the quick bowler for 2 boundaries off the ultimate two deliveries to achieve triple figures in entrance of his house crowd.
New Zealand struggled to speed up in opposition to Pakistan’s tempo duo of Shaheen Afridi and Zaman Khan within the powerplay.
Rauf then ran by way of the middle-order along with his misleading bowling for the second consecutive day after notching career-best figures of 4-18 on Friday.
Captain Tom Latham (19) was trapped lbw off Shadab Khan’s second supply and Chad Bowes scored 26 in 24 earlier than he was bowled by Imad Wasim.
Mark Chapman (65no off 40 balls) confirmed some aggression along with his fourth T20I half-century as Rauf struck at common intervals within the latter half of the innings.
“When Babar performs like that, you tip your hat,” Latham mentioned.
“We have been rather a lot higher than final night time … it’s a sport of high-quality margins and will be fickle.”
Lahore will host the third match on Monday earlier than Rawalpindi levels the final two video games of the sequence.
The T20 sequence shall be adopted by 5 one-day internationals with Rawalpindi and Karachi set to host.
