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That's all that we have from this contest. It sure was a walk in the park for the hosts - Pakistan took their time, and still had enough of it to get past the line. Not much time for New Zealand to ponder as both sides meet each other at the same venue, same time tomorrow. Join us right here on Sportskeeda for our coverage of the same, and of course, a whole lot more! This is Rajarshi Das, signing off on behalf of Arya Sekhar Chakraborty. Good night - see you tomorrow!
Babar Azam, Pakistan captain: The way we started in the first 6 overs was crucial, given the conditions at Pindi. Got to set the tone in them. Outstanding the way our pacers bowled. We'll experiment with our batting and bowling going forward, we planned so in these matches, check where we stand, and finalize with what works in the following games. On paper, looking at the Pakistan team, everyone seem match-winners. Few youngsters in the team as well, they bring energy, and the senior players have plenty of experience. We plan and execute as per the demands of the situation. We have 10 matches, have to tick the boxes. There'll be some or the other mistake each game, we have to sit and address them. On the day, we try to do well in all three aspects and focus on them every day, so that everything's up to the mark going into the World Cup.
Michael Bracewell, New Zealand captain: We didn't score enough runs. Probably were a little slow to adapt and put ourselves under pressure. The score wasn't enough to defend, but I was very happy with the way we tried to defend the total. You want guys to learn from the situation. We've got a game tomorrow - got to learn from the situation quickly, go out and take them into tomorrow. One of the things we pride ourselves on is fighting till the end, we did that tonight with the bowling and the fielding. We'll reflect on that tonight, and head into the next game.
Shaheen Shah Afridi is the Player Of The Match! Here's what he has to say: Bowled after 36 days, not easy for any bowler in getting back to the rhythm. Put my best effort in and believed on my own skills. The ball stops swinging after one over in a T20 game, so you need to judge the wicket. Bowled as per what the conditions demanded. Pakistan cricket can be better than this - Amir and Imad's arrival has strengthened Pakistan's bowling. Hopefully, the team will be ready once we head for the World Cup.
Match summary:
Pakistan win by 7 wickets with balls to spare
Mohammad Rizwan 45*(34) | Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/13 (3.1) Mark Chapman 19(16) | Ben Lister 1/10 (2)
They sure took their time, but they had the luxury of doing so. The wicket was nowhere near conducive for scoring big tonight - the hosts assessed the conditions to perfection, and that played a major part in them completing a comfortable win over an inexperienced Blackcaps side.
A stupendous catch off his own bowling saw Ben Lister strike two balls in. Saim Ayub was set on making a major impact, started off with a boundary but had to walk back. Mohammad Rizwan had to walk in, and as it turned out, it was the Pakistan keeper who set the ball rolling right away. While Babar was timing it really well, he wasn't able to place it right initially, and had to resort to playing second fiddle to Rizwan.
Rizwan's intent was a nice sight - he went for the big hits at will, and timed the ones that were on a drivable length. By the time Michael Bracewell broke the 2nd wicket partnership, the game was firmly in the grasp of the hosts. Usman Khan, too, failed to make an impact today - he cut one off Bracewell for a boundary but played on off Sodhi the next over.
Truth be told, the wickets after the partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan was a matter of chipping away. New Zealand missed a trick not bringing their slower bowlers on sooner - McConchie didn't have a bowl either, and so, the hosts got to take their time and coast through to the target of 91, which they did. Stay tuned for the presentations...
12.1 Michael Bracewell to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR! Rizwan finishes it off in style. Gets down on one knee and slog sweeps that tosed-up delivery around middle, in the gap down towards deep square leg region and off to the fence it goes. Pakistan wins by 8 wickets.
Well, we'll have a 13th over in the run-chase. Take two for Rizwan finishing it in style....
12
overs
88/3score
0
2
1
0
0
0
runs
Irfan Khan*
18(18)
Mohammad Rizwan
41(33)
Ish Sodhi
1/18
11.6 Ish Sodhi to Irfan Khan Niazi, guides away the flatter one a tad outside off, straight to the backward point fielder.
11.5 Ish Sodhi to Irfan Khan Niazi, Niazi comes down the track and taps away the good-length delivery around middle back to the bowler.