DUBAI, Nov 13 Teenager Umar Akmal hit a maiden half-century against disciplined New Zealand bowling to lift Pakistan to 153-5 in the second Twenty20 International at the Dubai Sports City Stadium here on Friday.
Umar, 19, scored an unbeaten 56 in his third Twenty20 match to boost Pakistan's innings which was derailed by some accurate bowling by paceman Ian Butler who took 3-28 after Pakistan won the toss and batted.
Akmal, whose 49-ball knock included five boundaries and a six, added 45 for the third wicket with captain Shahid Afridi (22) after Pakistan lost the quick wickets of Imran Nazir (19) and Kamran Akmal (26) to Butler.
Butler then had Shoaib Malik (seven) and James Franklin captured Abdul Razzaq (nought) before Umar and Fawad Alam (17 not out) added a quickfire 39 for the fifth wicket.
Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal gave Pakistan a robust start of 40 with Imran hitting three fours and six, while Kamran struck four boundaries and a six before New Zealand's bowlers slammed on the brakes.
Pakistan were unchanged from Thursday's win while New Zealand brought in paceman James Franklin in place of injured Aaron Redmond.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN
Imran Nazir b Butler 19
Kamran Akmal lbw b Butler 26
Umar Akmal not out 56
Shahid Afridi c Bond b McCullum 22
Shoaib Malik c Styris b Butler 7
Abdul Razzaq c Watling b Franklin 0
Fawad Alam not out 17
EXTRAS (NB-1, W-5) 6
TOTAL (for five wkts, 20 overs) 153
DID NOT BAT Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamir, Saeed Ajmal.
FALL OF WKTS 1-40, 2-51, 3-96, 4-114, 5-114.
BOWLING Bond 4-0-33-0; Southee 4-0-31-0 (1w); Butler 4-0-28-3 (2w); Franklin 3-0-26-1 (1nb); Styris 2-0-19-0 (2w); N. McCullum 3-0-16-1.
NEW ZEALAND B. McCullum, M. Guptill, R. Taylor, S. Styris, N. Broom, J.
Franklin, BJ Watling, S. Bond, I. Butler, N. McCullum, T. Southee.
UMPIRES Nadeem Ghouri, Zameer Haider (both Pakistan).
TV UMPIRE Ahsan Raza (Pakistan).
MATCH REFEREE Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe).—AFP
