Babar Azam helps Pakistan beat New Zealand in T20 tri-series

Saturday in Christchurch, Babar Azam’s fifty spurred Pakistan to their second victory in the Twenty20 international tri-series, as they defeated New Zealand by six wickets.

Azam relied on chance to knock 79 off 53 balls as his team seized control of the series with a 21-run victory over Bangladesh on Friday.

All three teams are utilizing the one-week event at Hagley Oval as preparation for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

New Zealand’s score of 147-8 after winning the toss appeared insufficient, and Azam’s innings eliminated any chance of victory by guiding the tourists to 149-4 with 10 balls remaining.

Tickner scores TWO! Follow LIVE play in New Zealand with @sparknzsport and TVNZ 1. #NZvPAK picture: QYWNpt4I6v on Twitter

October 8, 2022 — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS)

A simple dropped catch by Glenn Phillips at point off Tim Southee’s bowling while Azam was on 27 cost the hosts dearly.

The opener went on to score his 28th fifty in T20 internationals, tying him with Rohit Sharma for the second-most, trailing only another Indian, Virat Kohli (33).

Mohammad Rizwan, who struck an undefeated 78 against Bangladesh, was dismissed early by Southee, and the Pakistan middle order battled despite Shadab Khan’s 34 off 22 deliveries.

Nevertheless, Azam’s presence ensured that his team was always in charge.

He and Haider Ali scored 21 runs off the penultimate over bowled by Blair Tickner (2-42), the third-to-last over of the innings.

The fast 61-run partnership between Azam and Shadab for the third wicket provided a glimpse of a strategy they could deploy at the World Cup, with the all-rounder moved up the order.

Azam stated, “We definitely have a plan to send Shadab up to charge the bowlers in order to utilize his skills.”

“He performed admirably. The plan was for me to go all the way and for Shadab to take a chance.”

Earlier, a jumbled New Zealand batting performance was only salvaged by late strikes from the middle-order batsman Mark Chapman.

Chapman’s 32 off 16 balls followed good innings from opener Devon Conway (36 off 35 balls) and skipper Kane Williamson (31 off 30 balls), although both struggled with timing during the 61-run second wicket stand.

It was again another disappointing result for the accomplished Williamson, who has only reached 50 in all forms twice in the last 18 months, spanning 29 innings.

He was clean-bowled while attempting a slog-sweep off spinner Mohammad Nawaz, while Chapman holed out to a slower delivery from Pakistan’s greatest fast bowler, Haris Rauf (3-28).

On Sunday, New Zealand will face Bangladesh in the third match of the series.

AFP