Babar Azam hundred, Haris Rauf four-wicket haul give Pakistan 2-0 lead over New Zealand

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury: Babar Azam and Haris Rauf flourished as Pakistan beat New Zealand by 38 runs throughout the second recreation of the five-match T20I sequence on Saturday, April 15 on the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Babar didn’t perform throughout the sequence opener, nevertheless lit up the stadium with a stupendous 58-ball hundred. His knock, laced with 11 fours and three sixes, helped Pakistan submit a troublesome objective of 193 for the Black Caps to chase down.

The skipper wished 16 runs to attain his hundred with six balls left in Pakistan’s innings and he purchased there with a powerful 4 by the off-side off James Neesham. Babar moreover equalled Glenn Maxwell and Colin Munro as these with three a complete bunch throughout the format.

After opting to bat first, Pakistan purchased off to a beautiful start. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar positioned on 99 runs for the opening wicket off 10.4 overs to place the platform for the hosts. Rizwan purchased to his half-century, after which Matt Henry dismissed him.

Henry was on a hat-trick for the second time throughout the sequence, nevertheless this time spherical, luck didn’t favour him. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub didn’t open their accounts and Pakistan had been as quickly as lowered from 99 for no loss to 105 for 4 inside an space of 13 balls.

Thereafter, Babar and Iftikhar Ahmed positioned on 87 runs for the fifth wicket and purchased Pakistan close to the 200-run mark. Iftikhar threw his bat spherical to stay unbeaten on 33 off 19.
Haris Rauf picked up a four-wicket haul in direction of New Zealand. Courtesy: AP

The Kiwis purchased off to a delicate start courtesy of a 44-run stand for the opening wicket between Tom Latham and Chad Bowes. But every of them purchased out after getting started.

Mark Chapman scored 65 runs off 40 balls with 4 fours and as many sixes, nevertheless his efforts weren’t ample for the company to protected victory. Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra and James Neesham flattered to deceive.

Haris Rauf picked up 4 wickets throughout the first recreation and he carried his sort into the second match with one different four-wicket haul. The speedster has for the time being picked up 80 wickets from 59 matches at a median of 21.21.

The third recreation of the sequence will doubtless be carried out on Monday, April 17 and it’s a must-win affair for Tom Latham’s males to stay alive throughout the sequence.