T20 World Cup: Pakistan thrash New Zealand by 5 wickets

• Pakistan lose Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and others in quick succession.
  
• Imad Wasim also heads back to pavilion. 
• Earlier, Haris Rauf took 4 wickets to keep New Zealand at bay. 

SHARJAH: After struggling against the Black Caps, Asif Ali hit two pressure-relieving sixes to give the Men in Green the upper hand against New Zealand on Tuesday. 

Babar and Rizwan carefully started Pakistan's innings. However, the Pakistani skipper was bowled out by Tim Southee, as New Zealand drew first blood. 

Fakhar Zaman, after scoring a six, was trapped lbw. Hafeez showed some promise, hitting a six as well a few overs later. However, he was dismissed off a superb catch from Conway off Santner's delivery. 

A few deliveries later, Sodhi struck again for New Zealand, trapping Rizwan lbw. Rizwan walked off, not reviewing the decision. 

Earlier, a Pakistani bowling onslaught led by right-arm pacer Haris Rauf kept New Zealand at bay, as the Black Caps handed Pakistan a mediocre target of 135 runs. 

New Zealand started their innings against Pakistan cautiously, but ended up losing four wickets to Pakistan before hitting three figures.

Martin Guptill, Daryll Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham headed to the pavilion after being dismissed by Haris Rauf, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Hafeez respectively. 

After 10 overs, New Zealand had already lost three wickets to Pakistan's bowling attack.  

The Kiwis at the start held off Shaheen and Imad, as both Pakistani bowlers kept their line and length. 

However, a blistering delivery by Haris Rauf caught Martin Guptill unawares, and shattered his stumps. 

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against New Zealand.

"We are going to bowl first," said skipper Babar Azam at the toss. "We will take early wickets and put pressure on them. The second reason is the dew factor [so the team may want to capitalise on it]," he said. 

Speaking about the India win, Babar Azam said a victory always gives the team confidence, especially if it is the first one. 

"There is always room for improvement so we will try to be consistent," he said, adding that he has made no changes to the playing XI. 

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said he would like his team to adopt to the circumstances in Sharjah. 

Pakistan began their T20 World Cup journey with a record-breaking win against India.

On the ICC Men's T20 team rankings, Pakistan is placed third, while New Zealand is on fourth position. Pakistan holds a historical edge over the Kiwis in the format though, having won 14 and lost 10 contests between the sides. The last series between the two countries, in December 2020, was won by New Zealand.

The two sides were supposed to play another series in Pakistan as part of their preparation for the T20 World Cup, but the Kiwis abruptly cancelled the hotly-anticipated series minutes before the scheduled start of the ODI series in Rawalpindi, citing security threats.

PCB had expressed disappointment over New Zealand’s decision.

“Walking out of the tour by taking a unilateral approach on a security threat is very frustrating,” PCB chief Ramiz Raja had said.

‘Pakistan will not hold any grudges over New Zealand’

A day earlier, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson had said that both Pakistan and New Zealand enjoy good relations and the T20 World Cup match between the two teams "will be played in right spirits."

His comments came after Williamson had been asked, “if he feels there will be some acrimony or any grudges during the match due to the situation that arose after New Zealand had abandoned Pakistan’s tour last month.”

The skipper had said that it was a "disappointing" situation when the tour was called off.

“I know the team members were very much looking forward to the occasion and playing cricket in Pakistan, and it was a real shame that it wasn't able to go ahead,” he had said on the eve of the match.

“The focus now is here at the T20 World Cup, and no doubt after last night's performance, Pakistan have some momentum and are feeling pretty good about their cricket," he had said.

New Zealand lost their warm-up matches

It is pertinent to mention here that New Zealand had lost their warm-up fixtures to Australia and England for the T20 World Cup.

Ladder situation

If Pakistan succeeds to beat the Kiwis in its second match, it will go to the top of the Group 2 table. However, if New Zealand wins, it will give the team their first points and they will be one of three teams on two points.

Pakistan squad against New Zealand to remain unchanged

The Pakistani squad for the New Zealand T20 World Cup clash will remain unchanged — and the same team which defeated India would step on the ground today, sources told Geo News.

Playing XI

Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi

New Zealand XI

Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Kane Williamson (capt), Tim Seifert (wk), Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi