Pakistan tracked down another legend in Asif Ali and rediscovered an old one in Shoaib Malik as the Green Shirts held their unbeaten beginning to the T20 World Cup 2021 buzzing with a firmly challenged five-wicket prevail upon New Zealand in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Pursuing 135, Pakistan were relied upon to voyage to the objective, particularly after their 10-wicket drubbing of the powerful Indian side on Sunday. Be that as it may, all things considered, the pursuit turned progressively troublesome as Pakistan’s brand name batting breakdown raised its head once more, and took steps to break the hearts of their fans.
At a certain point in the run pursue, Pakistan were 87-5 in the fifteenth over and the game was getting away from the grip of the Men dressed in Green.
This is when Malik and Asif met up to frame an unbeaten 48-run association in a grip circumstance.
Asif’s commitment, specifically, was huge as his consecutive sixes in the seventeenth over brought Pakistan back in the game and legitimized his spot in the side.
Prior, Pakistan were driven by quick bowler Haris Rauf, who wrapped up with 4-22, as New Zealand posted a negligible 134-8.
Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell were joint top-scorers with 27 each while captain Kane Williamson made a difficult 26-ball 25.
Pakistan applied the strain directly from the beginning as left-arm paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose three wickets against India acquired him player of the match, amazed a lady first.
New Zealand came to 36 without misfortune when Rauf bowled Martin Guptill off his cushions for 17. He additionally represented Conway and Glenn Phillips (13) in one over as New Zealand neglected to lift the rhythm at any stage.
Rauf additionally excused Mitchell Santner (six) with the last wad of the last finished.
Shaheen wrapped up with 1-21 while spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim additionally took a wicket each.
Pakistan kept the very group that won against India.
New Zealand — playing their first game in the Super 12s — were shocked before the beginning of the match when quick bowler Lockie Ferguson was managed out of the competition with a calf injury.
Rauf was named the player of the match.
