Having lost the first T20I at Wellington, the onus was on Pakistan to keep the series alive when they took on New Zealand in the second game at Auckland on Thursday.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed elected to bat first after winning the toss and his decision was vindicated as the tourists put on a mammoth 201-4 in their 20 overs. In reply, the Kiwis were bowled out for 153 in the penultimate over of the match to hand the visitors a 48-run victory to tie the series at 1-1.
We look at the key talking points of a high-scoring encounter at Auckland.
PAKISTAN’S OPENERS FINALLY FIRE
Throughout the tour of New Zealand, Pakistan have failed to find a decent opening stand. Bar a couple of fifties from Fakhar Zaman in the ODI series, the lack of runs at the top has only increased the pressure on the batsmen in the middle-order.
On Thursday, Pakistan could have no complaints from their openers as Fakhar and a returning Ahmed Shehzad set-up the innings beautifully. The former in particular looked to be in his zone as he carted three sixes and five-boundaries in a 28-ball 50.
Shehzad proved to be the perfect foil for Fakhar and together, the two put on 94 runs for the first wicket, paving the way for a huge total.
Fakhar and Shehzad gave Pakistan a rollicking start with the bat.
BABAR AZAM AND SARFRAZ PROVIDE THE PERFECT FINISH
After a brisk stand, both Pakistan openers fell in quick succession. From that point on, Babar Azam and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed took on the mantle to further Pakistan’s progress.
The number three batsman has looked out of sorts in the tour so far but on Thursday he was back to his very best as he brought out his fluent and pleasing to the eye stroke play.
Sarfraz provided some late fireworks with three sixes in a 34-ball 41 cameo while Azam remained unbeaten on 50 as Pakistan breached the 200-run mark. The 201-run total is the highest-ever scored against New Zealand in a T20I.
Babar Azam was back to his best after enduring a lean patch.
TOM BRUCE’S RUN-OUT STARTS MINI KIWI COLLAPSE
Pakistan’s pacers had started the defence of 201 in the perfect manner as they removed the dangerous Colin Munro and Kane Williamson fell early.
However, the job was not complete with New Zealand’s T20 credentials. Tom Bruce had just got himself set when he took off for a quick single after dragging the ball to mid-wicket. From there with just one stump to aim for, Haris Sohail’s direct hit caught Bruce well short of his crease.
Pakistan’s young leg-spinner Shadab Khan then got into the action with two big wickets. He first had Martin Guptill caught at short-third man and then removed Colin de Grandhomme with a beautiful delivery. The latter had carted the youngster for a six and then a boundary but Shadab had the last laugh as he deceived the batsman with flight and turn to have him stumped by a country mile.
Within the space of a few overs, New Zealand went from 47-2 to 64-6, all but ending their hopes of an extraordinary chase.
Sohail’s direct hit caught Bruce well short to start a New Zealand collapse.
PAKISTAN BREAK KIWI JINX
Before Thursday’s encounter, Pakistan had endured a miserable time against the Black Caps. The subcontinent side had lost 13 successive games across all formats to the New Zealand ever since their win in the first T20I at Wellington in 2016.
They were handed a 5-0 thrashing in the preceding ODI series and when they went down tamely in the first T20I, it looked like another whitewash would be on the cards.
Hence, the 48-run win on Thursday not only helps them level the three-match series at 1-1, it also breaks the stronghold the hosts seemed to have developed over them.
The relief on the faces of the players says it all.
