The result of the series provides some solace for the selectors as they look towards the future of the Pakistan LOI teams with some new comers such as Saad Nasim, Haris Sohail, Raza Hasan showing some promise as is the return of Mohammad Irfan to the international scene. However, the usual frailties in the batting department remain a source of worry and something which the selectors will pay more attention to during the 5 match ODI series against the same opponents starting on the 8th of December at the DSC.

By Azfar Khan (5th December, 2014)

The second and final match of the T20 series started with Pakistan winning the toss and asking New Zealand to bat first. New Zealand made four changes as Latham, Mills, Vettori and Brownlie were part of the playing eleven and Pakistan rested Awais Zia and Irfan for Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Gul. Anton Devcich and Kane Williamson opened the innings for New Zealand whereas Pakistan continued with the successful opening pair of the last match Anwar Ali and Sohail Tanvir. The duo bowled a tidy first two overs for only three runs until Williamson hammered Anwar Ali for a four and six in back to back deliveries. 

The third over of the match cost 12 runs for Pakistan which resulted in Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi taking Anwar out of the attack. Umar Gul and Raza Hasan were introduced in the fifth and sixth over and the two proved to be a bit costly when both Williamson and Devcich struck two fours in one over respectively.

Another quick bowling change was made, Hafeez was introduced into the attack and straight away he gave his team a breakthrough and broke a near half century stand when he bowled a quicker one to bowl Devcich for 21 runs. New Zealand's score was 49/1 when Brownlie came to the crease and he lasted only two deliveries as Shahid Afridi dismissed him leg before for 0. Ross Taylor was the next man in, his score was only 2 runs when Sarfraz dropped him off Raza Hasan's bowling but Afridi continued getting wickets from the other end as he bowled Williamson for 32. New Zealand's score was 58/3 when Latham joined Taylor, only 20 runs could be added between them as Taylor was LBW for 7 runs while sweeping Raza Hasan. 

The score was 78/4 when Ronchi walked into the middle to join Latham. Ronchi hit Afridi for two back to back sixes and the two made a useful 38 run partnership before Latham got caught for 26 by the mid off fielder Anwar Ali off Gul's bowling. New Zealand were 117/5 when Neesham arrived but the set partner couldn't carry on for long as Ronchi skied one trying to pull Tanvir's bowling and he went for 31. New Zealand's score was 127/6 when Vettori walked out to bat but Gul got him in the next over for 0. Next was McCullum but he was run out and only contributed four runs to the team total. Neesham held things together at the end as New Zealand completed their 20 overs for 144/8.

Pakistan started their chase with Man of the Match of yesterday's match Sarfraz Ahmed and the returning Ahmed Shehzad. New Zealand opened their bowling with spinner Devcich who struck trapping Sarfraz LBW on the 4th ball of the first over. Pakistan lost their first wicket with the score on 2. Hafeez joined Shehzad in the middle and very quickly he made his intentions known when he hit two boundaries off Henry. Hafeez who was looking in good touch threw away his wicket cheaply as Devcich caught and bowled him for 9. Pakistan's score was 18/2, when Haris Sohail arrived at the crease but he could only make 3 runs as he slogged one straight into the fielders hand at deep square leg.

Pakistan's score was 24/3 when Saad Nasim joined Shehzad and the duo built a solid 40 run stand where they rotated the strike and hit the occasional boundary. The promising stand was cut short when Saad Nasim was dismissed slogging one straight into the fielders hands after making 19.

Pakistan were 64 for four when Uamar Akmal arrived and only 10 runs were added to the teams total when Shehzad who was well set and had played 30 plus deliveries was bowled trying to slog sweep Vettori. Shehzad went for 33 and the score was 74/5 when Afridi arrived at the crease. Straight away Afridi hit two sixes off Vettori and it gave hope to the fans that today will be Afridi's day with the bat. Meanwhile though Umar Akmal hit one four and got bowled by Neesham after scoring 10 runs.

The score was 97/6 when Anwar Ali joined Afridi but he couldn't do much as he tried to put the slower ball away but it only reached Williamson's hands who took a stunner of a catch to dismiss Anwar for 2 runs. The score was now 104/7 when Tanvir joined Afridi, a four and six off Neesham's over kept Pakistan interested but Afridi pulled and nicked one to the keeper on 28 and there went the hope of chasing the target as now no recognized batsman was left. Pakistan were 121/8 when Gul arrived and got dismissed on 0. Tanvir tried to put up a fight by hitting boundaries but he skied one trying to hit a six off Mills bowling, he went for 11 thus ending the game in favour of New Zealand as Pakistan were all out for 127 and the Twenty20 Series was levelled.

The result of the series provides some solace for the selectors as they look towards the future of the Pakistan LOI teams with some new comers such as Saad Nasim, Haris Sohail, Raza Hasan showing some promise as is the return of Mohammad Irfan to the international scene. However, the usual frailties in the batting department remain a source of worry and something which the selectors will pay more attention to during the 5 match ODI series against the same opponents starting on the 8th of December at the DSC.

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