Quickly
Socially
Trending
CryptoNZ beat PAK by 7 wickets | Pakistan vs New Zealand, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st T20I Match - Commentary
Pakistan in New Zealand, 3 T20I Series, 2018
Date: Jan 22, 2018 Start Time: 08:30 IST | 03:00 GMT | 16:00 LocalVenue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Google Trends
Live Bot
Pakistan vs New Zealand Highlights And Cricket Score 1st Match - T20I Commentary
How many overs? Well, the cricketing question should be can Pakistan make a match out of this, can they take early wickets blah, blah, blah... but to be honest, given their performance in this tour so far, really a matter of time before New Zealand go 1-0 up. Would love to have a contest though. Stay tuned...
Only two batsmen managed to reach double figures, which pushed the score into the three-digit area. The 30-run stand between Babar Azam and Hasan Ali was the only saving grace for the visitors. Seth Rance once again continued his impressive display with three wickets while captain Southee took 3 as well. The World Number 1 bowler Ish Sodhi did not pick up a wicket but was pretty economical. Mitchell Santner on the other hand, was terrific with 2/15 in 4 overs.
4/1, 4/2, 15/3, 22/4, 38/5, 38/6 and 53/7. Nothing much to write, eh? Pakistan were just clueless today. Early in the game, they were struggling with the conditions and the swing and then when spin came on, they struggled to read the googlies and the carrom balls.
Apart from the last 2 overs, nothing much to worry about for the Kiwis. To be extremely critical, they could have had Babar Azam off strike but they will take the target of 106 any day. A superb bowling performance from their unit. Correction. ANOTHER superb bowling display.
Colin Munro to Babar Azam. OUT! A wicket. Pakistan are bowled out. Azam cannot do a repeat. Similar ball to the previous one, Azam backs away and looks to go over long on but this has lesser power. Simple catch to the man over there. Tom Bruce does the formalities. 106 is the target for New Zealand.
Colin Munro to Babar Azam. SIX! Fine hit! A length ball on middle, Azam backs away and swings it over long on! 4, 2, 6! Just because of New Zealand's lack of awareness! What is next?
Colin Munro to Babar Azam. OVERTHROW! Pakistan will take anything they get. Terrific awareness. Babar swings this towards mid-wicket and takes a single. However, the fielder returns a wild throw to the keeper. Glenn Phillips has to leap to collect but does not do a bad job. What happens next is bad. He tries to get to the ball and attempt a throw at the striker's end but instead, ends up parrying it to mid-wicket. Now, the batsmen take the second.
Colin Munro to Babar Azam. FOUR! Great start to the over! Short and outside off, Azam backs away and cuts it behind point for a boundary!
Colin Munro to bowl the final over.
Seth Rance to Babar Azam. Yes he does. A little bit of lack of awareness from New Zealand. One guess they could have sacrificed a boundary and kept the field in for this ball so that the last man gets on strike for the next over. But instead, they have preferred to go with the flow and not changed the field. A length ball on middle, Babar just tucks it to deep mid-wicket and gets a single.
Seth Rance to Babar Azam. On a length outside off, Azam steers it behind point and comes back for a couple. Can he get a single on the last ball?
Rumman Raees is the last man in.
Seth Rance to Mohammad Amir. OUT! Number 9 is down. A short ball, targetting the body right from over the wicket, Amir backs away and looks to pull but is cramped for room. Gets a top edge which goes straight up in the air. Tim Southee gets across from mid off and takes the catch near mid on.
Seth Rance to Babar Azam. On a length outside off, Babar punches it through point and takes a run.
Seth Rance to Babar Azam. A short ball outside off, Azam backs away and looks to pull but mistimes it back to the bowler.
Seth Rance to Mohammad Amir. Full and outside off, Amir backs away and crashes this through the covers straight to sweeper. Just a single.
Tim Southee to Mohammad Amir. Very full ball outside off, dug out through the covers for another single. The three fat ladies singing now - 88/8.
Tim Southee to Babar Azam. Another short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for one.
Tim Southee to Babar Azam. Short and outside off, Azam looks to punch but mistimes it to cover.
Tim Southee to Mohammad Amir. Backs away to the leg side and works it through mid-wicket for a run.
Tim Southee to Mohammad Amir. Outside off, played straight to point.
Tim Southee to bowl now.
Tim Southee to Babar Azam. A short ball outside off, pulled down to long on for a single.
Seth Rance to Mohammad Amir. Played to the point region by the batsman.
Seth Rance to Babar Azam. Overpitched, Azam works it through mid on for a run.
Mohammad Amir walks in next.
Seth Rance to Hasan Ali. OUT! Ali is a goner. His cameo comes to an end. Entertaining innings from him though. One too many shots one would reckon. This is dragged back a bit by Rance, Ali looks to get a hat-trick of sixes but only manages a top edge to it. The ball flies to Southee at mid on who takes another easy catch.
Seth Rance to Hasan Ali. SIX! Back-to-back biggies for Ali. Length again, Ali lofts this over mid on for half a dozen. Pakistan will hope Ali stays till the end if they want to get anywhere close to that hundred mark.
Seth Rance to Hasan Ali. SIX! Second maximum of the innings. And it's come from a number nine batsman. Length ball around off and Ali hits it over mid-wicket for a biggie! They need more of this, is Pakistan.
Seth Rance to Hasan Ali. Wide. The batsman tries flicking a ball that is down the leg side. Wide signalled by the umpire.
Seth Rance to Hasan Ali. Ali goes for the cut but gets an bottom edge to it and the ball goes to the point fielder.
Rance is back on.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. NOT OUT! Ali survives. Perhaps a throw at the keeper's end would have done the trick. Pitched up, Azam works it through mid-wicket and they take on the arm of the fielder as they come back for the brace. A throw towards the bowlers end and Santner removes off the bails. The umpire goes up to see if Ali is in. Replays show that he managed to get in on time.
Run out appeal! Is Hasan Ali gone? Referred upstairs.
Mitchell Santner to Hasan Ali. Tossed up,Ali lofts this over mid off to rotate strike.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. Azam gets to the pitch of the ball and works this on the leg side for another run.
Mitchell Santner to Hasan Ali. Floated ball, Ali slogs sweeps this for one.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. Drags his length back, Azam plays it off his back foot towards mid off and they run through.
Mitchell Santner to Hasan Ali. Tossed up around off, Ali drives it past covers for one.
Mitchell Santner to roll his arm.
Ish Sodhi to Hasan Ali. Quicker on middle, Ali mistimes his heave down to long on for a run.
Ish Sodhi to Hasan Ali. Slower outside off, turning away. Sodhi wanted Hasan to try and drag this one on the leg side. He does try but does not connect. That was clever bowling by the no. 1 T20I bowler.
Ish Sodhi to Hasan Ali. SIX! BANG! First maximum for the day and it is off the bat of a batsman coming in at no. 9. What a hit! Sodhi floats this one up on middle, Ali goes down on one knee and slog sweeps it. He connects well and sends it sailing over the mid-wicket fence.
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam. Shorter in length, turning away. Azam drags his pull and hits the ball down to long on for a run.
Ish Sodhi to Hasan Ali. He bowls it flatter on middle, Hasan who loves playing his shots, camps back and pulls it through square leg for a run
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam. Tosses it up on off, Azam drives it down to long off for a run.
Ish Sodhi to bowl now.
Tim Southee to Hasan Ali. Ali is beaten trying to drive this ball.
Hasan Ali is the new man in.
Tim Southee to Faheem Ashraf. OUT! Pakistan are losing wickets like nine-pins. Short ball around off, Ashraf looks to slap this over mid off but gets a leading edge to it. The ball flies to the extra cover fielder, Bruce who takes it with a reverse cup. They look like they will get all out before 80-odd runs. They need a miracle to get past it.
Tim Southee to Babar Azam. Pitched up, Azam plays it through mid-wicket to move to the other end.
Tim Southee to Babar Azam. Drags his length back and Azam defends it off the back foot.
Tim Southee to Babar Azam. The batsman defends it from within the crease.
Tim Southee to Babar Azam. Length to start with, Azam slogs it through mid-wicket for a run.
Tim Southee to bowl from the other end.
Colin de Grandhomme to Faheem Ashraf. Direct hit would have got Azam! On middle, Ashraf taps it to the leg side and Babar starts to run. However, the striker is in no mood to leave his crease and Azam has to turn back. He is a long way down and Colin de Grandhomme quickly gets to the ball. Picks it up, turns around and then has a shy at the bowler's end. Misses. Babar was short by a foot.
Colin de Grandhomme to Faheem Ashraf. A length ball outside off, Faheem swings hard but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.
Colin de Grandhomme to Faheem Ashraf. Short and outside off, slapped past point for a couple.
Colin de Grandhomme to Babar Azam. Outside off, angled towards backward point in the deep for a run. A huge cheer goes around the ground as the 50 is raised!
Colin de Grandhomme to Faheem Ashraf. A full toss, on middle, worked towards long on for a run.
Colin de Grandhomme to Babar Azam. Full on middle and leg, flicked to the leg side for a single.
Colin de Grandhomme to bowl.
Mitchell Santner to Faheem Ashraf. A quicker one to finish, landed outside off, Faheem plays inside the line and is beaten.
Mitchell Santner to Faheem Ashraf. On middle and leg, flicked straight to short mid-wicket.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. Another flick, another single.
Mitchell Santner to Faheem Ashraf. Down the leg side, the carrom ball, flicked through the leg side for one.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a run.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. Short and outside off, cut away for a single. Nope. The fielder prevents the run.
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam. Short and outside off, cut away for a run.
Ish Sodhi to Faheem Ashraf. Down the leg side, flicked towards fine leg for a run.
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam. Congratulations. Babar has become the first batsman to reach double figures this afternoon. Full and around off, worked wide of mid-wicket for a single.
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam. Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.
Ish Sodhi to Faheem Ashraf. Full and outside off, pushed through mid off for a single.
Ish Sodhi to Faheem Ashraf. The googly, on middle and leg, Ashraf, like the others, has no clue and does not pick it at all. Misses the defense and is hit on the pads.
Ish Sodhi to Faheem Ashraf. WIDE. Tosses it around leg, then gets it to spin past the left-hander's flick.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Mitchell Santner to Faheem Ashraf. Tossed up ball, Ashraf works this towards mid-wicket for one.
Mitchell Santner to Faheem Ashraf. The batsman works it down the leg side.
Mitchell Santner to Faheem Ashraf. Hat-trick ball and well played by Asharf. Darts this straight in line of the stumps and Ashraf defends this presenting the full face of the bat.
Faheem Ashraf is in next.
Mitchell Santner to Shadab Khan. OUT! Santner is on a hat-trick. Tosses it up, in line of the stumps and has enough spin on it to get the outside edge of Shadab Khan. The ball goes to the keeper who takes it after a couple of fumbles. Pakistan are digging their own hole.
Shadab Khan walks in next.
Mitchell Santner to Sarfraz Ahmed. OUT! Good to see that Ahmed can split but it is not required in cricket. Slower ball outside off, Ahmed is early into his shot and misses it completely. He goes for the sweep and loses his balance doing a split. Glenn is quick to dislodge the bails. The umpire raises his finger without going up.
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam. Sharp turn. Spins away from Azam. He tries to cut it but is beaten.
Ish Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed. Pitched up, on middle and leg, Ahmed milks it through mid-wicket to rotate strike.
Ish Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed. Ahmed has swept that one through the leg side.
Kane Williamson is giving an interview along the sidelines. Says that he has a slight strain in his left side, hence does not want to take a risk. Adds that playing continuous cricket has perhaps aggravated it. Feels that Brendon McCullum is responsible for New Zealand's rise and the current team is just continuing what he built.
Ish Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed. Spinning away from Ahmed who looks to cut it on the off side and gets beaten.
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam. Sodhi floats this ball full on leg, Azam works it through mid-wicket for another run.
Ish Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed. Tossed up ball, around off, Ahmed plays it to the point fielder for one.
Mitchell Santner to Sarfraz Ahmed. Pushes this through mid on for a run.
Mitchell Santner to Sarfraz Ahmed. Driven through mid off by the batsman. A committed effort by the fielder to save runs for his team.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. Full on middle, flicked through square leg for a run.
Mitchell Santner to Sarfraz Ahmed. Another quick run. Just a tap to cover.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. Full and outside off, pushed with soft hands through cover for a quick single.
Mitchell Santner to Babar Azam. Outside off, played straight to point.
Spins from both ends. Mitchell Santner to bowl from the other end.
Ish Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed. Wide outside off, just kissing the wide guidelines, left alone.
Ish Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed. Ohh dear... another googly, SA is not able to pick him at all. Gives himself room to cut but is cramped and the ball goes off the gloves to short mid-wicket. Babar Azam starts to run but then Sarfraz sends him back, as the striker has no idea where the ball has gone.
Ish Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed. Outside off, played straight to point.
Ish Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed. FOUR! Another one in the air. Outside off, Ahmed cuts it uppishly but well wide of short third man for a boundary!
Ish Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed. What a ball! Sarfraz had no clue about that. Landed outside off, Sarfraz sets himself to cut but then the ball spins back in sharply and catches the batsman off guard. He is cramped for room and is hit on the pads. The ball lobs to the leg side. Sodhi appeals for LBW but that was missing leg.
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam. Almost another chance. Short and outside off, Azam cuts hard but the ball goes off the outside edge, pretty sharp and quick, wide of Ross Taylor at first slip towards third man. Three runs taken.
Ish Sodhi will roll his arm now.
Anaru Kitchen to Babar Azam. Full again on leg, Azam works this past mid-wicket to retain strike.
Anaru Kitchen to Sarfraz Ahmed. Fuller ball on middle and leg, Ahmed flicks this through mid-wicket for one.
Sarfaraz Ahmed is the new man in.
Anaru Kitchen to Haris Sohail. OUT! Another one falls. After a couple of dot balls, Sohail looks to go hard on this. Pitched up ball on off, Sohail drives this but it flies straight to Bruce who is at the cover region. Pakistan lose another wicket, trying to get runs and are in deep trouble now. They need a partnership here and a couple of calm heads.
Anaru Kitchen to Haris Sohail. Sohail doesn't find the gap. Hits this again to mid-wicket.
Anaru Kitchen to Haris Sohail. Sohail plays this to the mid-wicket fielder.
Anaru Kitchen to Babar Azam. Fuller on the legs, Azam works it on the leg side for one.
Anaru Kitchen will bowl from the other end.
Colin de Grandhomme to Haris Sohail. Punched off the back foot by the batsman.
Colin de Grandhomme to Haris Sohail. FOUR! Excellent cricket shot. They need more of this. A slight fuller on off, Sohail gets to it and drives it through covers for a boundary. They get their second boundary of the innings with minimum risk.
Colin de Grandhomme to Haris Sohail. Sohail works this full delivery to mid on.
Colin de Grandhomme to Babar Azam. Pitched up, Azam flicks this through mid-wicket for one.
Colin de Grandhomme to Babar Azam. Azam drives this to mid off.
Colin de Grandhomme to Haris Sohail. Length outside off, Sohail is early into his shot and gets an edge which rolls to third man. They complete a run.
Colin de Grandhomme is the first change.
Tim Southee to Babar Azam. Full and outside off, driven straight back to the bowler.
Babar Azam is the new man in.
Tim Southee to Mohammad Nawaz. OUT! Third one down. Pakistan are just throwing it away here. This does not look like a 200 pitch. 150 can be defended. But for that, the score has to reach 150. On a length outside off, Nawaz blindly swings across the line, is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and finds mid on. Simple catch. The experiment of sending Nawaz as a pinch hitter pinches and hits Pakistan instead.
Tim Southee to Haris Sohail. A short ball outside off, Haris slap-punches it down the ground past mid off. The outfield is pretty slow and hence the ball stops. Three runs taken.
Tim Southee to Haris Sohail. Outside off, a push and a miss.
Tim Southee to Mohammad Nawaz. The batsman gets a bottom edge on that one and takes a single.
Tim Southee to Haris Sohail. Full and wide outside off, Sohali slices it behind point for a single.
Seth Rance to Mohammad Nawaz. Good shot. Full and outside off, driven straight down the ground for a couple.
Seth Rance to Mohammad Nawaz. Action replay of the previous delivery.
Seth Rance to Mohammad Nawaz. Outside off, Mohammad looks to push it to the off side but is beaten.
Seth Rance to Mohammad Nawaz. FOUR! Has Tom Bruce hurt himself? Down the leg side, Nawaz flicks it through the leg side behind square leg. Bruce gives it a good chase from deep mid-wicket, gets to the ball, slides, but while doing so, his knee gets stuck into the ground and he is hurt.
Haris Sohail walks in next.
Seth Rance to Umar Amin. OUT! Super catch from Kitchen and Pakistan are two down! The visiting side are being consumed by the movement here. On a length outside off, Amin looks to flick against the line but gets a leading edge. It is a difficult catch as the wind takes the ball beyond point. But Anaru Kitchen does an excellent job. First he runs after the ball, keeping his eyes on it and also takes care that he does not collide with the third man fielder coming in. Takes the catch, fumbles, drops but then grabs it in the second attempt. Beautiful.
Seth Rance to Umar Amin. Around off, defended solidly.
Tim Southee to Mohammad Nawaz. Nawaz pulls this to the square leg fielder.
Tim Southee to Mohammad Nawaz. Back of a length ball on middle, Nawaz is hit high on the pads trying to flick it.
Tim Southee to Mohammad Nawaz. Dropped! Oh boy! Ross has put down a sitter at first slip. Straightforward catch and that should have been taken. Length ball around off, Nawaz tries to flick it first up. He gets a fat edge to it and the ball goes to Ross stationed at first slip. He gets low but the ball doesn't stick to his hands. Nawaz gets away with it.
Mohammad Nawaz comes in at number three.
Tim Southee to Fakhar Zaman. OUT! That's the first wicket. Slightly overpitched, around off, Zaman looks to go over covers. He doesn't time it well and the ball goes straight to the cover fielder, Anaru Kitchen who takes the easiest of catches. Not the start Pakistan would have wanted. Zaman takes the long walk back to the hut.
Tim Southee to Fakhar Zaman. Wide. An attempted bouncer which was well over head height. The umpire has signalled a wide.
Tim Southee to Fakhar Zaman. Zaman pulls this to mid-wicket for nothing.
Tim Southee to Fakhar Zaman. Just wide of a diving Glen Philips. Southee starts of with a short ball and Zaman goes for the pull shot. He gets an top edge to it and flies high. Glenn hares to it but falls well out of his reach. They run through for the second run.
Tim Southee will bowl from the other end.
Seth Rance to Umar Amin. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. Good over for NZ, just the one from it.
Seth Rance to Umar Amin. Length and around off, Umar looks for the drive and is beaten again.
Seth Rance to Umar Amin. Play and miss, drags his length a bit short, outside off and Umar tries to poke at it but misses.
Seth Rance to Umar Amin. Back of a length ball, Umar goes early in the shot and gets a leading edge to it before dying on the ground.
Seth Rance to Umar Amin. This kept low. Length on leg, Umar tries to flick it but is hit low on the pads.
Seth Rance to Fakhar Zaman. Starts of with a length ball around off, swinging away from Fakhar who guides it towards third man for the first run on the board.
The players are out in the middle. Umar Amin and Fakhar Zaman will open the innings for Pakistan. Seth Rance will do the new-ball duties for the Kiwis. Zaman to face. Here we go!
That was quick! The rain has come and gone and it is bright and sunny again! Even more better news - we have a scheduled start as well. Brilliant!
Oh dear... rain has come from nowhere. It is a bit heavy but seems like a passing shower.
TOSS - Tim Southee has won the toss and NEW ZEALAND HAVE ELECTED TO CHASE. Not surprising, small ground, T20, chasing is the best. No debutants in either side but have to say, New Zealand looking a bit too new in comparison to the Pakistan unit.
WEATHER - Perfect conditions for playing evening cricket. The sun is about to set, twilight will come in and not many signs of rain clouds.
As a big blow to the Black Caps, skipper Kane Williamson has been rested due to a stiff side. Tim Southee will captain in his absence. To be honest though, the way New Zealand have been playing, doubt whether it will matter.
After a whitewash in the ODI series, we now shift focus to Pakistan's favourite version of cricket - the T20Is. It is a contest between numbers 1 and 2 in this format in the ICC rankings and each team will be vying that numero uno spot. Which team will grab the headlines? Hello and a warm welcome to the first of 3 T20Is between New Zealand and Pakistan at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
That is it from this game then! Expected more of a contest frankly, given that Pakistan are excellent in this format. Let us hope for some competition come the second T20I at Eden Park in Auckland at 1900 local (0600 GMT) on Thursday, 25th January, 2018. Until then, ADIOS! Take Care!
Victorious Kiwi captain, Tim Southee is pretty calm. Says that the plan was to win the toss, bowl well and pick up wickets. That exactly happened but feels that his team bowled really well. Is proud of the way his bowlers blunted the attack from the Pakistan openers. Praises Seth Rance for showing consistency in his performance which is a reward for his domestic heroics. Praises Munro as well for staying till the end and taking the team home. Is excited about the youngsters breeding in the side.
Pakistan skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed is downcast. Admits that losing wickets early hampered them and they could never recover. Feels that not able to keep wickets in hand and inability to play the new ball created the havoc. Hopes to play well in the second match. Praises the new-ball bowlers of his own side and feels 140-150 could have been defended.
Man Of The Match, Colin Munro, says that it was very pleasing for him and the team to get over the line. Admits that it was a tricky wicket, so took some time to settle. It was about trying to bat as deep as possible for him. Wouldn't call that a shocker of a wicket, he says, but yes, it was pretty up and down. Is happy that the Kiwis managed to restrict Pakistan to 105. On his own batting consistency, he says that he has evolved in the last 12 months. Initially, he was only playing well in the shorter format but he has been training hard and the improvement can be seen. On his hand, which was bruised thanks to a hit from a throw, Munro plays it down, saying that it is alright, just needs to be kept under ice for some time.
After being bowled out for 105, not many teams come out firing with the ball but Pakistan showed some gumption for a fight, at least in the Powerplay. They had the Kiwis 8/2 by the 4th over but could not quite build on that. Rumman Raees and Shadab Khan bowled superbly while the rest were ineffective. 6th loss in a row in international cricket for Pakistan in New Zealand. Stay tuned for the presentation...
Pretty unfortunate then, given the way the match ended. Colin Munro looked in great shape to get to his half century but a hat-trick of boundaries from Ross Taylor changed the scenario. Otherwise, a good game for the Kiwis, with Munro dominating proceedings but they would have wished the likes of Glenn Phillips and Tom Bruce to take centrestage.
Hasan Ali to Ross Taylor. WIDE! Munro does not get a fifty but New Zealand win! Anti-climax. Like what happened in Whangarei during the NZ-WIN ODI series, where Rovman Powell bowled a delivery down the leg side to Taylor, this time Hasan bangs it in short and high over the batsman's head. That time, Taylor was on 49, this time, he wanted to eke out a dot ball but Pakistan had other ideas. 1-0 up then, go New Zealand.
Hasan Ali to Ross Taylor. FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! Will Munro get to his fifty? Full and outside off, Taylor leans into this one and drives it through the covers for a boundary again! The scores are level!
Hasan Ali to Ross Taylor. FOUR! The result is the same! This is shorter in length and Taylor pounces onto it, pulling it wide of deep mid-wicket for consecutive boundaries!
Hasan Ali to Ross Taylor. FOUR! CLUNK! Full and outside off, Taylor comes forward a touch and whacks it over mid-wicket for a boundary! The target is into single digits now.
Hasan Ali to Ross Taylor. Outside off again, placed straight to cover.
Hasan Ali to Colin Munro. Outside off, crunched through the covers for a single.
Hasan Ali is back on.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. DROPPED! But a good effort from Umar Amin. A flighted ball outside off, CM gets down and mows it over mid-wicket. Looks like he has got enough but Amin leaps correctly at the fence. However, he is unable to hold onto it. Just a single. End of a terrific spell from Shadab - 4-0-18-1. 15 dots and just a four and a six.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Another wrong 'un, Colin backs away and looks to cut but misses. Extra bounce as well.
Shadab Khan to Ross Taylor. The leg spinner now, pushed towards point for a single.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. It was there... a tossed up ball, on leg stump, Munro tried to slog but missed. The ball deflected off his pads to short third man. It was a googly. A leg bye taken.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Comes down the track a touch and flicks it straight to short mid-wicket.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. A short ball on middle, tucked straight to square leg.
Shadab Khan to bowl out. Will Munro respect his bowling figures?
Rumman Raees to Ross Taylor. Short and outside off, cut straight to point.
Rumman Raees to Colin Munro. Down the drain goes the expectation. A quiet single towards mid-wicket. The crowd wants boundaries.
Rumman Raees to Ross Taylor. Anticipation from the crowd as Taylor plays the supporting role perfectly, by rotating the strike. Flicked through mid-wicket.
Rumman Raees to Colin Munro. Outside off, crunched through the covers for a single to get the target under 20.
Rumman Raees to Colin Munro. Full and outside off, right in the slot, Colin blasts it but straight to mid off.
Rumman Raees to Colin Munro. SIX! Watch out in the crowd because Munro is in the mood now! A nothing ball, short and around the waist, Munro just pulls it over mid-wicket for half a dozen!
Rumman Raees is back on.
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. 14 from the over!
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro. SIX! CLUBBED! Well, he is teeing off now. Full and around middle, Munro gets down again and slogs it over mid-wicket for a biggie! 27 more needed from 47 balls!
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro. FOUR! The entertainment resumes after a bit of a pause. Floated outside off, Munro gets down and lofts it over covers for a boundary.
Mohammad Nawaz to Ross Taylor. Comes down the track, Nawaz fires it in again, on middle, Taylor squirts it off the inside edge through square leg for one.
Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Munro. Backs away to the leg side, Nawaz fires it on the stumps, cut wide of long off for a run.
Mohammad Nawaz to Ross Taylor. Full and outside off, pushed down to long on for a single. 39 more needed from 47 balls.
Mohammad Nawaz is spotted in the line-up as well and will bowl. Number 6.
Faheem Ashraf to Ross Taylor. Flicks this one away, this time only for a single.
Faheem Ashraf to Ross Taylor. Great running again. Rosco tucks this behind square leg, not too far from the fielder in the deep but still has time to hare back for the second.
Faheem Ashraf to Colin Munro. Comes down the track and looks to go big but mistimes it down the ground to mid on. Just one.
Faheem Ashraf to Ross Taylor. Excellent batting. All the Pakistan fielders on the off side are inside the ring, yet that single is completed with ease. Just a tap to the off side towards point, a look at Munro and then off. The batsmen are in even before the throw is released.
Faheem Ashraf to Ross Taylor. OVERTHROW now. Pakistan do not need this. Especially when they are defending a meagre total. Outside off, Taylor taps it to the leg side and calls for a quick single. Haris Sohail comes charging in, picks the ball up and has a shy at the keeper's end but misses. What is worse, the throw is well wide of the person backing up and goes all the way to third man, allowing the batsmen to come back for the second.
Big gap on the leg side. Square leg is at the boundary and then not a soul from mid-wicket to long on.
Faheem Ashraf to Colin Munro. On a length outside off, punched through the covers for a single.
Faheem Ashraf is the fifth bowler to bowl in this innings.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. It won't be a wicket maiden but a terrific over from Shadab. On middle and leg, worked through mid-wicket for a single.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. That skids off the surface, bowled at 88 kph, Colin misses his tuck and the ball lobs off the pads to short third man. Taylor wants the single but is sent back.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Goes back in his crease and punches it back to the bowler.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Comes down the track but is not quite to the pitch of the ball and blocks.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. That ball has taken the inside edge of the batsman and thudded into his pads.
Ross Taylor walks in at number 5, replacing Bruce.
Shadab Khan to Tom Bruce. OUT! There goes the third wicket. But perhaps a bit too late for Pakistan. Shadab floats it outside off and Bruce stretches to play the slog sweep. Ends up dragging it and hence gets more height than distance. 'Dropped...' whispers my colleague Wayne but to no avail. Fakhar Zaman makes no mistake at the mid-wicket fence. So Bruce disappoints but the Kiwis are well in control. Just 49 more needed from 59 balls.
Hasan Ali to Tom Bruce. Full on middle, pushed through mid on for another single. 12 from this over, 23 off the last 2.
Hasan Ali to Colin Munro. A short ball again, heaved to deep mid-wicket for one more.
Hasan Ali to Tom Bruce. Short and around off, Bruce backs away and cuts it behind point for a run.
Hasan Ali to Colin Munro. Down the leg side, worked through square leg for a single.
Hasan Ali to Colin Munro. FOUR! New Zealand are in a hurry now. 18 from the last 4 balls. Comes down the track, does Munro, gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it over mid off for consecutive boundaries!
Hasan Ali to Colin Munro. FOUR! CLOBBERED! What a shot. On a length, around leg, Munro does not care what pace Hasan Ali bowls at. Sits down on a knee and sweeps it yes, sweeps it over square leg for a boundary! 57 more needed from 65 balls.
Shadab Khan to Tom Bruce. Around off and outside, defended back to the bowler. 11 from the over.
Shadab Khan to Tom Bruce. FOUR! They are not letting Shadab settle. Around off, swept through square leg for a boundary!
Shadab Khan to Tom Bruce. SIX! BRUTAL! Full and outside off, Bruce gets down and slog sweeps this well over mid-wicket! 65 more needed from 68 balls!
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Should that have been taken? Full on leg stump, CM sweeps it uppishly towards square leg in the deep. There is Umar Amin stationed but he does not move till the ball comes to him. At the last moment he comes forward and the ball dips in front of him. The on-air commentators feel that had Amin taken a couple of steps in advance, he could have taken that catch. A single taken.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Full and outside leg, Colin looks to sweep but gets a top edge onto his chest. Bruce wants a single but Munro is not interested.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Short on the stumps, Munro backs away and cuts it straight to cover.
Hasan Ali to Tom Bruce. Follows the batsman again, Tom looks to pull but misses once more and is hit on the unmentionables.
Hasan Ali to Tom Bruce. The batsman failed to make contact and was hit low on the pads.
Hasan Ali to Tom Bruce. A short ball again, Bruce looks to hook but misses.
Hasan Ali to Tom Bruce. The batsman has slammed it through the point region for a couple.
Hasan Ali to Tom Bruce. Backs away to the leg side, Hasan follows him, bowls it short, Bruce looks to pull but misses and is hit on the box. Ouch.
Hasan Ali to Tom Bruce. Around off, coming in, watchfully defended.
Hasan Ali is the new bowler. He should enjoy these conditions, one feels.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. NOT OUT. Going over the stumps. The review is gone. Pitched in line of the stumps, Munro gets down and looks to play the reverse sweep but misses and is hit on the body. Pakistan appeal and Shadab is confident that he has his man. Sarfraz goes for the review, not too convincingly but on the insistence of his bowler. Is not too happy with the Hawk Eye's verdict, perhaps he too felt it was too high.
Is that LBW? Looks pretty close but Pakistan do not have too much of a choice. They take the review.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Punched off the back foot by the batsman.
Shadab Khan to Tom Bruce. A full toss on middle, Bruce gets across and paddles it over the keeper through fine leg. Just one.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Outside off, punched off the back foot for a run.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
Shadab Khan to Colin Munro. Full on middle, swept through square leg for a couple. Some good fielding in the deep.
Time for spin. Shadab Khan into the attack. Important period for Pakistan. They need to wrest some control.
Rumman Raees to Tom Bruce. Around off, watchfully defended. Pakistan were 24/4 at this stage. Run difference is not that great but the wicket difference is a big one.
The physio is out in the middle. Munro does not look in too much trouble or pain, or else, he is not showing it. In fact, the physio is going off the field and now Munro is looking at the heavens with a bit of a sigh. That may not be a good sign. He might be feeling the pain now then.
Rumman Raees to Colin Munro. OUCH! That has hurt. Another freakish accident. Already a player has been injured in this tour due to an accident on the field and now this. Outside off, Munro punches this towards mid off and sets off for a single. Faheem Ashraf gets to the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses and hits Munro's thumb on the right hand instead.
Rumman Raees to Colin Munro. Outside off, punched off the back foot.
Rumman Raees to Tom Bruce. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads for a single. 79 more needed from 87 balls now.
Rumman Raees to Tom Bruce. FOUR! Superb timing. A full toss on middle, Bruce just flicks it through square leg. There is a fielder in the deep, at mid-wicket and he starts to run but the ball travels at lightning speed. Poor guy, he has to dive but has no chance. Sarfraz Ahmed gives him a piercing look but mate, that bloke had no chance! Might as well stare at the bowler for dishing out a full toss.
Rumman Raees to Tom Bruce. WIDE. A bit too short, on middle, Tom lets it go and it is way over his head.
Rumman Raees to Tom Bruce. Excellent bowling. Spots Bruce walking across his stumps and slips in a slower ball, on off, defended back to the bowler.
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro. Another short ball, this is comfortably pulled, all along the ground through mid-wicket for two more.
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro. A short ball on middle, pulled uppishly, just about clearing mid on. Two runs taken.
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro. Terrific ball. Swinging in late from outside off, nice pace, 145.6 kph, Munro plays it equally well and drives it towards mid off. 'SHABAASH, AMIR!'
Mohammad Amir to Tom Bruce. Outside off, tapped to the off side for a quick single. 89 more needed from 93 balls.
Mohammad Amir to Tom Bruce. WIDE. Gets across his stumps and Amir bowls it down the leg side. Tom looks to pull but misses. Harsh call for a wide, given that the batsman had shuffled across and the ball was not far from the line of leg stump.
Mohammad Amir to Tom Bruce. Outside off, Bruce looks to cut but misses.
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro. On a length outside off, Munro calmly works it wide of long on for a single.
Rumman Raees to Tom Bruce. FOUR! First boundary of the run chase! A length ball outside off, a touch wide, Bruce leans and lofts it over cover for a boundary!
Rumman Raees to Colin Munro. Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total.
Rumman Raees to Tom Bruce. Gets off the mark with a tuck to the leg side. A single.
Rumman Raees to Tom Bruce. On middle and leg, flicked towards mid-wicket. Suddenly one can hear the Pakistan fielders chirping and clapping.
Tom Bruce walks in at number 4, replacing Phillips. This is where inexperience could cost the Kiwis a bit. Though they still have Taylor and de Grandhomme and the target is not the largest.
Rumman Raees to Glenn Phillips. OUT! Chopped on! Are we in for a contest? A length ball outside off, Glenn looks to hop and run it down to third man but there is no room and he only drags it back onto his stumps! Pakistan were 4/2, the Kiwis are 8/2!
It is interesting to see Glenn Phillip's batting stance. Crouches really low while facing the bowler. Reminds me of one such Robin Smith from England in the 90s. Invitation for a back injury.
Rumman Raees to Glenn Phillips. Outside off, Phillips feels for it but misses.
Mohammad Amir to Glenn Phillips. Another short ball, another pull, another run.
Mohammad Amir to Glenn Phillips. Stays back in his crease and blocks.
Mohammad Amir to Glenn Phillips. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro. A short ball, pulled down to long leg for a run.
Mohammad Amir to Glenn Phillips. A short ball on middle, pulled away for a single.
Mohammad Amir to Glenn Phillips. Outside off, Phillips slashes hard but misses.
Rumman Raees to Glenn Phillips. Outside off, gets this down to third man for a run and is off the mark.
Rumman Raees to Glenn Phillips. On middle and leg, defended from the crease.
Rumman Raees to Glenn Phillips. Wide outside off, Glenn chases after it but misses.
Rumman Raees to Glenn Phillips. Outside off, punched off the back foot.
Rumman Raees to Colin Munro. On middle and leg, flicked through the leg side for a single.
Glenn Phillips comes in at number 3.
Rumman Raees to Martin Guptill. OUT! The hero of the one-dayers is gone for single figures! Terrific start from Raees and that will lift the entire Pakistan unit. A short ball around off, angling away, Guptill goes for the pull but the bounce does him in. Gets a top edge which carries nowhere. Mohammad Nawaz comes running in from mid-wicket and takes a sitter.
Rumman Raees to bowl from the other end.
Mohammad Amir to Martin Guptill. Ohh!!! Pakistan would have hoped that would go straight to the fielder at mid on. Amir bangs this short and Guptill looks to slap this over mid on. He does not time it well and the ball goes ahead of the fielder at mid on. They pick up a run.
Mohammad Amir to Martin Guptill. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Mohammad Amir to Martin Guptill. Swing and a miss from Guptill. Length ball, swinging away from Guptill who goes for the big heave but misses the ball completely.
Mohammad Amir to Colin Munro. Munro gets off the mark. Pitched up from Amir in line of the stumps, Munro flicks it away behind square for a run.
Mohammad Amir to Martin Guptill. Drags his length back a bit, Guptill jumps on his toes and plays it on the leg side to pick up his and the team's first run.
Mohammad Amir to Martin Guptill. Starts off with a length ball which moves away from Guptill. Amir charges in and pitches this around off, Guptill need not play at those as he leaves it alone.
We are back for the chase. 106 is what New Zealand need. Wickets and that too in heaps are what Pakistan need. They are in a huddle near the boundary line and now make their way out to the middle. For the Kiwis, Martin Guptill and Colin Munro will open the batting. Mohammad Amir will open the bowling for the away side. Here we go...