Image Credit- AP
In the first two of the five-match series against
Pakistan in Hamilton, New Zealand led 2-0 thanks to a scorching 41-ball 74 from
Finn Allen and a four-wicket haul from Adam Milne.
After posting 226 in Auckland, Allen shared
half-centuries for the first two wickets with Devon Conway and Kane Williamson,
suggesting that New Zealand was once again on course for a massive score.
Despite Mitchell Santner’s late cameo, Abbas Afridi and Haris Rauf helped
Pakistan recover and limit the hosts to 194.
Pakistan appeared to be in control after losing two
early wickets thanks to an 87-run partnership between Babar Azam and Fakhar
Zaman. However, Milne, Ben Sears, and Ish Sodhi exploited Pakistan’s batting to
ensure New Zealand’s victory.
With two half-centuries in the Super Smash and scores
of 38 and 34 in his previous two Twenty20 Internationals, Allen was in fine
form again, smashing Rauf for a six and a four off his opening two deliveries.
Allen hit Shaheen Shah Afridi for a six over deep midwicket, so he was also not
spared.
Allen kept going after Rauf, who conceded 30 runs in
his opening two overs. With an 11-run over, Abbas was also welcomed to the
assault.
Pakistan was wrong to believe that spin could stop
Allen. After greeting Usama Mir with two boundaries in his opening over, he hit
him for a four and a six the following over. A half-tracker that was lifted
over deep midwicket for six added a 24-ball half-century to the total.
After Allen returned to the hut, Abbas scored two runs
in each of the next two tight overs from Rauf and Mir, thus putting New Zealand
five down. Rauf then badly damaged their chances of reaching 200 with a
penultimate over that ended with three wickets. Before finishing with 3 for 38,
he had Glenn Phillips caught at backward point, Milne holed out to long-on for
a golden duck, and Sodhi was easily dismissed.
Santner gave it his all, hitting Abbas for six at
first and then getting 14 from a Jamal over, but he was dismissed in the final
over, allowing New Zealand to be limited to 194.
Tim Southee and Adam Milne sent the openers packing
early, despite a six from Mohammad Rizwan off the first ball he faced.
At first, Babar was the more aggressive one, but
Fakhar quickly caught up. Pakistan finished the powerplay on 61 for 2, as he
blasted three sixes in two overs. After hitting Sodhi for two sixes in a row,
he was able to reach a 23-ball fifty thanks to two consecutive fours off Mile.
But after two balls, he continued to play.
Babar took on any short ball and soared to 21 off his
first ten balls. On 27, Chapman shelled a sitter at backward point, giving him
a respite. He batted consistently and reached his second consecutive
half-century even after losing Fakhar.
Sears had Iftikhar Ahmed caught at fine leg as the
asking rate on Pakistan increased. Then, Sodhi swiftly removed Jamal and Azam
Khan.
Babar continued to battle, blasting sixes to Southee
and Santner. Shaheen followed suit, challenging Santner.
But in order to break Pakistan’s resistance, Sears had
Babar misjudge the mid-off. In the penultimate over, Milne scored two runs
without reply, but Southee completed the victory.