Pakistan beat New Zealand by two runs in Twenty20 thriller

AFP Published October 31, 2018

Pakistan cricketer Mohammed Hafeez (R) is watched by New Zealand's wicketkeeper Tim Seifert as he plays a shot. —AFP

New Zealand's Ajaz Patel (2L) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan. —AFP

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Pakistan beat New Zealand by two runs in the first Twenty20 international in a last over thriller in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

New Zealand needed a six off the last ball to tie the match but managed a boundary to finish at 146-6 in 20 overs.

Pakistan's best bowler was Hasan Ali who finished with 3-35.

Pakistan made 148-6 with Mohammad Hafeez (45), Sarfraz Ahmed (34) and Asif Ali (24) main run getters after they won the toss and batted.

Adam Milne was the best New Zealand bowler with 2-28.

The remaining two matches will be played in Dubai on Friday and Sunday.

Teams

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Colin de Grandhomme, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor

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Shahryar Shirazi

Nov 01, 2018 12:19am

Congrats Pakistan!

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HUMSUB

Nov 01, 2018 12:27am

Batting is a major concern, very consistent underperforming and can do much better

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Philosopher (From Japan)

Nov 01, 2018 12:28am

Pakistan has done it again. Congrats team green. Keep the green flag high.

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Javid Shirazi

Nov 01, 2018 12:31am

Well done.

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AZulfi

Nov 01, 2018 12:34am

Nail biting win Pakistan defending a modest total (148) yet again but only just. However they did well to get up to 148 after losing wickets in a heap This NZ side is better than Australia Must look to score 160-180 in the remaining two games if we bat first

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Aslamohd

Nov 01, 2018 12:35am

Good to see Pakistan winning the t20 matches. Do Pakistan maintain the same when they chase. Correct me if I am wrong there are only handful wins when they chase.

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American Raja

Nov 01, 2018 12:45am

What a great and entertaining match. Congrats to my Green Shaheens!

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Sagar

Nov 01, 2018 12:47am

After seeing how Aussies and Kiwis were struggling against Pakistani bowling, one understands the value of Rohit's and Dhawan's knocks against the same bowling attack. These overseas players play with stiff hands. Doesn't work that way on turning, slow pitches. Anyway congrats.

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Vorshal Handa

Nov 01, 2018 12:56am

It was a good match. Well played Pakistan!

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LOUDSPEAKER

Nov 01, 2018 01:10am

Well done Green Shirts. Congratulations. Although it’s a very close finish the good thing is Pakistani bowlers were didn’t allow NZ batsmen to take any liberties. Talking about Kiwis, this is their first match in UAE , looking from that perspective they performed very well.

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REVERSESWING

Nov 01, 2018 01:21am

Congratulations to Sarfaraz and his men in Green Shirts. It was a real thriller and NZ tried their level best to upset Pakistan.

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Bilal

Nov 01, 2018 01:21am

Great team spirit - go green machine

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Khany

Nov 01, 2018 01:43am

Pakistan makes the impossible possible. The worst low scoring batting team winning most of its T20 games. All this is possible due to its bowling and fielding.

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Desi

Nov 01, 2018 01:50am

Batting is still struggling, how long can bowlers win the games. Batsmen have to score over 175 constantly. New Zealand will come back strong in the next two games. This was even and there is no difference between the two teams. Just one team had to lose and New Zealand just came on the losing end.

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Pak_UK

Nov 01, 2018 01:55am

There is a need of Fakhar at top and Umar Akmal in lower middle order. Keep Malik at 4.

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syed

Nov 01, 2018 02:05am

Maybe Mohsin Khan should resign from PCB. His suggestion to kick out Sarfaraz after he beat Australia in test matches, reflects his desire to please a lobby in PCB and media

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syed

Nov 01, 2018 02:16am

SahabZada Farhan is a waste of time

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Mzay

Nov 01, 2018 02:54am

Great game, Congratulation Team Green. Hope to see similar competition in next games. Surprised to see Sarfraz didn't use Hafeez's full quota when he was bowling excellent.

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Ray

Nov 01, 2018 04:01am

Great win team green!

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Riaz

Nov 01, 2018 05:25am

Well done Pakistan and the bowlers specifically. NZ are a real threat they well played very well and the fielding was superb. They have Munro, who can win matches, and Pak have to be very careful in remaining matches. Batting is an issue. Farhan, is not up to it. Probably need to revert back to Faqar. Moving Asif to make sense if he can strike the ball. Perhaps Asif to open if he likes pace might be the better option and strengthen batting. Sarfraz atleast forced to bat and did well. Let’s see, need to do something with the batting.

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Hadi

Nov 01, 2018 05:50am

Go Pakistan!

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ajay

Nov 01, 2018 06:42am

Hafez in some effort deliveries looked like he was chucking.

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Waqar Khan

Nov 01, 2018 07:10am

nice Match, it was exciting to watch every ball.

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Safire Ahmad Siddiqui

Nov 01, 2018 07:31am

A superb performance but we were short of just 12 runs.Should endeavor to score 160 in the next match.Congratulations Pakistani team.

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Arju

Nov 01, 2018 07:34am

Very good going. Keep it up!

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JACKJONES

Nov 01, 2018 07:51am

Unfortunately I could not see the entire game but from my read and seeing some sport analyst programs the game was a thriller. Well played Pakistan!!! Great job bowlers in winning the match. I think hafeez is doing an excellent job with the batting and bowling. As I have said before we need to change our bowling strategy maybe start with Hafeez instead of Emad. Currently, Pakistan bowling is too predicable and batsman are beginning to understand Emad and find him easy to play thus he gets hit all over the place. As far as our batting I think we need to score at least 170 runs, New Zealand is a very strong team and has the capacity to score north of 180 runs if batting first. I think the man of the match should have been given to Hasan Ali, he is really good bowler and has the potential of being a very effective and reliable medium pace bowler. I am looking forward to the match on Friday!

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Dr.M.S.Awan

Nov 01, 2018 08:03am

What a thrilling match to watch! Well done Pakistan.This is what cricket is all about. A good and close contest that keeps you on the edge of the seat until it is finished.

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Sarah

Nov 01, 2018 08:47am

No matter how hard the other team plays this team knows how to come out on top.

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Operation Rajiv 87

Nov 01, 2018 09:31am

Hafeez bowling was the difference

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Juggernaut

Nov 01, 2018 10:21am

Pakistan will win here most of the games on dead slow pitches, but when they will tour outside UAE they will struggle big time on good pitches.

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wsyed

Nov 01, 2018 11:12am

@Operation Rajiv 87 and his batting, Hafeez or Shoaib should be the Captain, hard to stomach Sarfraz.

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Majid A

Nov 01, 2018 11:23am

Good result for green shirts

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Asif

Nov 01, 2018 12:20pm

@Operation Rajiv 87 no it was Shaheen Afridis last over.

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cricketlover

Nov 01, 2018 12:51pm

Even though it was a close finish, Pakistan put up a really strong performance to clinch this match to take a 1-0 lead. Keeping the Kiwis' sloggers in check and maintaining a strong presence in the field to finally snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, is by no means a small achievement.

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Ray

Nov 01, 2018 04:35pm

@wsyed, get a life. Both Hafeez and Shoaib have been captains and have produced disastrous results. So what makes you think they’re going to do better this time?unless you’re an Indian bot or a member of the Akmal family, your comments don’t make any sense. All the Pakistan supporters would like to challenge you folk an open debate and see how good your opinions are. Please take the challenge or hold your thoughts to yourself.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Nov 01, 2018 06:37pm

Well done green-shirts. Stay focused, keep your feet on the ground and refrain from being complacent in the upcoming matches. With unity, faith and discipline, you can turn the tables on all your opponents.

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Gaurav

Nov 01, 2018 11:56pm

NZ should watch some Indo-Pak Asia cup highlights to understand how to play Pakistani bowlers.

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cricketlover

Nov 02, 2018 12:38am

A win is a win, no matter what the margin is. Pakistan, though they may have won by the narrowest of margins, did manage to contain the Kiwis' sloggers and make the effort to go the distance instead of wilting under pressure. Now, moving forward, they will be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents and try to work both Plan A and Plan B in order to maintain consistency in this format.

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cricketlover

Nov 02, 2018 12:42am

@Sagar, Incorrest assessment as it doesn't take into account the absence of Imad Wasim, a key member of the Pakistani bowling outfit in the current dual series. So, the Indians haven't faced such siturations in the Asia Cup matches and, therefore, a comment like that is not justified here.

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cricketlover

Nov 02, 2018 12:48am

@Khany, How does a par total of around 150 become a "low score", especially in T20 game?

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JackJones

Nov 02, 2018 08:20am

@Pak_UK, I might agree there is a need of a consistent middle order batsman but certainly not Umar Akmal. Akmals are all drama which Pakistan does not need anymore. We can use Shoaib Akhtar but somebody needs to support and stay with him.

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