As they go against New Zealand in the second T20I on Tuesday at the University Oval, Pakistan will want to recover and even the series.
Starting the series poorly, the Men in Green lost nine-wickets in the opening Sunday match at Christchurch. Particularly in batting, the opening game revealed Pakistan’s weaknesses; debutants Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad battled and scored 0 and 7 respectively.
Apart from Khushdil Shah, who scored 32 runs, Pakistan’s batting order lacked any resilience. Their bowling lacked force as well, which can cause middle order alterations for the second game.
Batting first, Pakistan fell under duress against New Zealand’s pacers Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson, who dropped them to 1/3 during the first 2.2 overs.
As vice-captain Shadab Khan fell cheaply for just three runs, Pakistan was left reeling at 11/4 in 4.4 overs.
With a 46-run fifth wicket strike, all-rounder Khushdil Shah and skipper Salman Ali Agha sought to steady the batting.
Their alliance was fleeting, though, as Agha left in the 12th over and Shah followed in the next. Agha managed 18 from 20 balls, while Shah top-scored Pakistan with a 30-ball 32 including three sixes.
Pakistan’s fall went on, until finally they were bowled out for a below-average 91 in 18.4 overs. New Zealand responded by easily chasing down the score, losing only one wicket and arriving at the mark with 59 balls remaining.
Pakistan’s probable XI for the second T20I:
Salman Ali Agha (c), Mohammad Haris (WK), Omair Bin Yousuf, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Haris Rauf/Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Abrar Ahmed.
