Pakistan’s win puts New Zealand, India in difficult position in World Cup
Both the teams are in do or die like situation in the event
Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets and put their arch rival India and Kiwis in a very difficult position in the ICC T20 World Cup.
Pakistan had won the toss and invited New Zealand to bat first. The Kiwis scored 134 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs and gave Pakistan a target of 135 to win.
In reply, the Pakistani team achieved the target at a loss of 5 wickets.
Now India and New Zealand will play on Sunday. After losing to Pakistan, the match between India and New Zealand in Group Two has almost become quarter finals.
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Cricket pundits say that now a do or die like position for both India and New Zealand. The losing side will be difficult to reach the semi finals. Any team that loses the match will have zero points after playing two matches, and if it beats the other teams in Group Two, Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia even then it would be difficult for the team to the semi-finals
Reaction of the New Zealand Cricket Board:
In a message on social networking site Twitter after the loss to Pakistan, the New Zealand Cricket Board said: “The team did their best to defend the target with their bowling but tonight was Pakistan’s night in Sharjah.”
Pakistan’s night in Sharjah despite a big effort to defend with the ball. Scorecard | https://t.co/okuyk9UZGw #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/OOVGiXSEeq
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 26, 2021
Prime Minister Imran Khan congrats team:
Congratulating the national team on the glorious victory of the Pakistani team from New Zealand, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, “Congratulations Pakistan team! The bowling was excellent once again.”
بہت مبارک ٹیم پاکستان! باؤلنگ ایک مرتبہ پھر شاندار رہی۔ ایک عمدہ ٹیم ہار کی صورت میں اپنی غلطیوں کا جائزہ لے گی۔ ایک عظیم ٹیم جیت کے باوجود اپنے کھیل کا جامع تجزیہ کرتی ہے۔
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 26, 2021
Chairman PCB’s response:
On the national team’s victory, PCB chairman Rameez Raja wrote in a message on social networking site Twitter: “Great win! NZ is a tough opponent and winning a tough game gives you confidence . Head down boys and on to the next one! #PakistanZindabad”.
Great win! NZ is a tough opponent and winning a tough game gives you confidence . Head down boys and on to the next one! #PakistanZindabad
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) October 26, 2021
Pakistan’s first wicket fell at 28 when captain Babar Azam was bowled by Kiwi bowler Tim Southee. Babar scored 9 runs. In the ninth over, Fakhr Zaman got LBW on the ball of Tim Southee.
The highest score for Pakistan was scored by Mohammad Rizwan who scored 33 runs and became LBW. Shoaib Malik hit 2 fours and 1 six and scored 26 runs while Asif Ali scored 27 with 3 sixes and a four.
Harris Rauf was named Player of the Match for taking four wickets for 22 runs in four overs.
Earlier, New Zealand reached 36 without loss when Rauf bowled Martin Guptill off his pads for 17. He also accounted for Conway and Glenn Phillips (13) in one over as New Zealand failed to lift the tempo at any stage.
There were no boundaries in overs 14 to 16 as even Phillips — who hit most sixes in the T20 blast in England this year with 36 — failed to clear the boundary.
Haris also dismissed Santner (six) with the last ball of the final over.
Shaheen finished with 1-21 while spinners Hafeez and Imad also took a wicket each.
The Group II contest was played against the backdrop of bad blood between the sides after New Zealand abruptly abandoned a limited-overs tour of Pakistan last month citing a security alert. England followed suit in a double blow.
Mitchell, Williamson and Conway (27) all got good starts but were unable to build on them.
“It’s disappointing,” Williamson said. “Unfortunately we couldn’t nail things towards the back end but we were up against a very good side in Pakistan.”
