Allen fires as NZ power past Pakistan

E-Paper | November 05, 2026

Allen fires as NZ power past Pakistan

Agencies Published October 12, 2022

NEW ZEALAND opener Finn Allen plays a shot as Pakistan wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan looks on during their Twenty20 tri-series match at the Hagley Oval on Tuesday.—AFP

CHRISTCHURCH: Finn Allen showed his form ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup by top-scoring for New Zealand with a disciplined batting display in their nine-wicket romp over Pakistan in Christchurch on Tuesday in the tri-series.

Allen blasted six sixes in his 62 off 42 balls, marking himself as a player to watch when the T20 World Cup starts later this month, as the Black Caps chased down their target of 131 with ease at Hagley Oval.

The victory leaves the hosts and Pakistan each with two wins and one defeat before the Black Caps next face Bangladesh on Wednesday, also in Christchurch.

The three nations are using the week-long tournament to fine tune for the T20 World Cup in Australia which begins later this month.

An improved bowling performance saw Pakistan restricted to 130-7 in their 20 overs before Allen and Devon Conway’s rapid opening partnership of 117 set up a comfortable victory.

After Allen was stumped by Mohammad Rizwan, captain Kane Williamson saw New Zealand home with three overs and five balls to spare.

“It was an improvement again from the last game,” said Williamson, referring to New Zealand’s eight-wicket win over Bangladesh on Sunday.

“The condition weren’t easy, but we were nice and clinical with the ball. Finn really broke the back of the chase by being super aggressive and Devon complemented him nicely.”

Following his unbeaten 70 against Bangladesh, Conway struck five fours in compiling 49 not out off 46 balls.

“I think our first innings was a little bit slow” said Pakistan captain Babar Azam, whose side play Bangladesh on Thursday. “We will sit down now and discuss our mistakes and be better in the next match.

“We had a bad day and I think in the batting we were not up to the mark. With 150 or 160 it’s possible to defend, but not with 130.”

New Zealand’s win on Tuesday was set up by the bowlers. Mitchell Santner conceded 11 runs from his opening over then joined with Michael Bracewell to uproot Pakistan’s top order.

The pair combined to contain Pakistan’s powerful batters, sharing four of the first five wickets.

Bracewell, who took 2-14 in New Zealand’s win over Bangladesh on Sunday, bettered that with 2-11.

He claimed the first Pakistan wicket to fall, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan for 16. Rizwan fell in the manner of several Pakistan batters who made the mistake of trying to hit the ball down the ground.

With the ball turning a little and holding in the surface of a worn pitch, it was always dangerous to try and hit lofted straight shots.

“I was a bit fortunate in that first over with a couple of short, wide ones which went straight to fielders,” said Bracewell.

“I wouldn’t say there was huge amount of turn. The ball was just holding in the wicket and bouncing a bit which creates the illusion of turn.

“It was a slightly different role today. Bowling in the power-play makes it a bit nerve-wracking against world-class batsmen, but I was happy with the way it came out. I’m really enjoying the role that I’m playing and just providing quality overs for the team.”

Shan Masood gave Santner his first wicket when he was out for 14. He was enticed by a flighted delivery outside off stump to also go down the ground but couldn’t clear long-on, where Bracewell took the catch.

Shadab Khan (eight) fell in the same manner. Santner again tossed the ball up outside off and Shadab holed out to Tim Southee at long-on.

Bracewell then claimed the vital wicket of Babar or 21. He tossed up a slower ball which floated away from the batter and Babar feathered an edge to Conway behind the wicket.

Leg spinner Ish Sodhi got into the act with the wicket of Haider Ali who also was deceived in flight and was caught at long-on. Pakistan were 77-5 in the 14th and under pressure to lift their scoring rate.

Southee (2-31) made that difficult in the later overs, removing top-scorer Iftikhar Ahmed (27) and Mohammad Nawaz with the first two deliveries of the final over but Mohammad Wasim survived the hat-trick ball.

Pakistan were 91-5 after 15 overs but the earlier wickets made the last five overs less profitable than they might have been.

The New Zealanders had the chance in fielding first to study the nature of the pitch. When they batted they looked to hit squarer and the tactic paid off, especially for Allen who hit one of his sixes out of the ground.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Mohammad Rizwan c Neesham b Bracewell 16

Babar Azam c Conway b Bracewell 21

Shan Masood c Bracewell b Santner 14

Shadab Khan c Southee b Santner 8

Iftikhar Ahmed c Tickner b Southee 27

Haider Ali c Southee b Sodhi 8

Asif Ali not out 25

Mohammad Nawaz c (sub) b Southee 0

Mohammad Wasim not out 1

EXTRAS (W-10) 10