Pakistan found a new hero in Asif Ali and rediscovered an old one in Shoaib Malik as the Green Shirts kept their unbeaten start to the T20 World Cup 2021 alive with a closely contested five-wicket win over New Zealand in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Chasing 135, Pakistan were expected to cruise to the target, especially after their 10-wicket drubbing of the mighty Indian side on Sunday. But instead, the chase turned increasingly difficult as Pakistan's trademark batting collapse reared its head again, and threatened to break the hearts of their fans.
At one point in the run chase, Pakistan were 87-5 in the 15th over and the game was slipping away from the clutches of the Men in Green.
This is when Malik and Asif came together to form an unbeaten 48-run partnership in a clutch situation.
Asif's contribution, in particular, was massive as his back-to-back sixes in the 17th over brought Pakistan back in the game and justified his place in the side.
Earlier, Pakistan were led by fast bowler Haris Rauf, who finished with 4-22, as New Zealand posted a paltry 134-8.
Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell were joint top-scorers with 27 each while skipper Kane Williamson made a laborious 26-ball 25.
Pakistan applied the pressure right from the start as left-arm paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose three wickets against India earned him player of the match, bowled a maiden first over.
New Zealand reached 36 without loss when Rauf bowled Martin Guptill off his pads for 17. He also accounted for Conway and Glenn Phillips (13) in one over as New Zealand failed to lift the tempo at any stage.
Rauf also dismissed Mitchell Santner (six) with the last ball of the final over.
Shaheen finished with 1-21 while spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Imad Wasim also took a wicket each.
Pakistan kept the same team that won against India.
New Zealand — playing their first game in the Super 12s — were jolted before the start of the match when fast bowler Lockie Ferguson was ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury.
Rauf was named the player of the match.
End of live thread!
135-5 after 18.4 overs: Boult to Asif, 2 runs
133-5 after 18.3 overs: Boult to Asif, 6 runs
127-5 after 18.2 overs: Boult to Asif, no run
127-5 after 18.1 overs: Boult to Malik, 1 run
Asif Ali 19 (9) Shoaib Malik 26 (19)
126-5 after 18 overs: Santner to Asif, no run
126-5 after 17.5 overs: Santner to Asif, 2 runs
124-5 after 17.4 overs: Santner to Malik, 1 run
123-5 after 17.3 overs: Santner to Malik, 6 runs
117-5 after 17.2 overs: Santner to Malik, 2 runs
115-5 after 17.1 overs: Santner to Malik, 4 runs
Asif Ali 17 (7) Shoaib Malik 13 (15)
111-5 after 17 overs: Southee to Asif, no run
111-5 after 16.5 overs: Southee to Asif, no run
111-5 after 16.4 overs: Southee to Asif, no run
111-5 after 16.3 overs: Southee to Asif, 6 runs
105-5 after 16.2 overs: Southee to Asif, 6 runs
99-5 after 16.1 overs: Southee to Malik, 1 run
Shoaib Malik 12 (14) Asif Ali 5 (2)
98-5 after 16 overs: Sodhi to Malik, 1 run
97-5 after 15.5 overs: Sodhi to Malik, 4 runs
93-5 after 15.4 overs: Sodhi to Malik, no run
93-5 after 15.3 overs: Sodhi to Malik, no run
93-5 after 15.2 overs: Sodhi to Asif, 1 run
92-5 after 15.1 overs: Sodhi to Malik, 1 run
Asif Ali 4 (1) Shoaib Malik 6 (9)
91-5 after 15 overs: Boult to Asif, 4 runs
87-5 after 14.5 overs: Boult to Imad (11) OUT LBW
87-4 after 14.4 overs: Boult to Imad, 4 runs
83-4 after 14.3 overs: Boult to Imad, no run
83-4 after 14.2 overs: Boult to Malik, 1 run
82-4 after 14.1 overs: Boult to Malik, no run
Shoaib Malik 5 (7) Imad Wasim 6 (9)
82-4 after 14 overs: Sodhi to Malik, 1 run
81-4 after 14 overs: Sodhi to Imad, 2 runs WIDE
79-4 after 13.5 overs: Sodhi to Malik, 1 run
78-4 after 13.4 overs: Sodhi to Imad, 1 run
77-4 after 13.3 overs: Sodhi to Imad, no run
77-4 after 13.2 overs: Sodhi to Malik, 1 run
76-4 after 13.1 overs: Sodhi to Imad, 1 run
Imad Wasim 4 (6) Shoaib Malik 2 (4)
75-4 after 13 overs: Neesham to Imad, 1 run
75-4 after 12.5 overs: Neesham to Imad, no run
74-4 after 12.4 overs: Neesham to Malik, 1 run
73-4 after 12.3 overs: Neesham to Malik, no run
73-4 after 12.2 overs: Neesham to Imad, 1 run
72-4 after 12.1 overs: Neesham to Imad, 2 runs
Imad Wasim 0 (2) Shoaib Malik 1 (2)
70-4 after 12 overs: Sodhi to Imad, 1 run leg bye
69-4 after 11.5 overs: Sodhi to Imad, no run
69-4 after 11.4 overs: Sodhi to Rizwan OUT LBW
69-3 after 11.4 overs: Sodhi to Rizwan, 1 run WIDE
68-3 after 11.3 overs: Sodhi to Rizwan, 4 runs
64-3 after 11.2 overs: Sodhi to Malik, 1 run
63-3 after 11.1 overs: Sodhi to Malik, no run
That catch by Devon Conway to get rid of Hafeez was arguably the catch of the tournament.
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Mohammad Rizwan 29 (32)
63-3 after 11 overs: Santner to Hafeez (11) OUT CAUGHT
63-2 after 10.5 overs: Santner to Rizwan, 1 run
62-2 after 10.4 overs: Santner to Hafeez, 1 run
61-2 after 10.3 overs: Santner to Rizwan, 1 run
60-2 after 10.2 overs: Santner to Hafeez, 1 run
59-2 after 10.1 overs: Santner to Rizwan, 1 run
Mohammad Hafeez 9 (3) Mohammad Rizwan 26 (29)
58-2 after 10 overs: Neesham to Hafeez, 2 runs
56-2 after 9.5 overs: Neesham to Rizwan, 1 run
55-2 after 9.4 overs: Neesham to Hafeez, 1 run
54-2 after 9.3 overs: Neesham to Hafeez, 6 runs
48-2 after 9.2 overs: Neesham to Rizwan, 1 run
47-2 after 9.1 overs: Neesham to Rizwan, no run
Mohammad Rizwan 24 (26)
47-2 after 9 overs: Sodhi to Zaman (11) OUT LBW
47-1 after 8.5 overs: Sodhi to Rizwan, 1 run
46-1 after 8.4 overs: Sodhi to Zaman, 1 run
45-1 after 8.3 overs: Sodhi to Zaman, 6 runs
39-1 after 8.2 overs: Sodhi to Zaman, no run
39-1 after 8.1 overs: Sodhi to Zaman, no run
Fakhar Zaman 4 (12) Mohammad Rizwan 23 (25)
39-1 after 8 overs: Neesham to Zaman, 1 run
38-1 after 7.5 overs: Neesham to Zaman, no run
38-1 after 7.4 overs: Neesham to Zaman, no run
38-1 after 7.3 overs: Neesham to Zaman, no run
38-1 after 7.2 overs: Neesham to Rizwan, 1 run leg bye
37-1 after 7.1 overs: Neesham to Zaman, 1 run
Fakhar Zaman 2 (7) Mohammad Rizwan 23 (24)
36-1 after 7 overs: Santner to Zaman, 1 run
35-1 after 6.5 overs: Santner to Zaman, no run
35-1 after 6.4 overs: Santner to Zaman, no run
35-1 after 6.3 overs: Santner to Rizwan, 1 run
34-1 after 6.2 overs: Santner to Rizwan, 4 runs
30-1 after 6.1 overs: Santner to Rizwan, no run
Fakhar Zaman 1 (4) Mohammad Rizwan 18 (21)
30-1 after 6 overs: Southee to Zaman, no run
30-1 after 5.5 overs: Southee to Zaman, no run
30-1 after 5.4 overs: Southee to Zaman, no run
30-1 after 5.3 overs: Southee to Rizwan, 1 run
29-1 after 5.2 overs: Southee to Zaman, 1 run
28-1 after 5.1 overs: Southee to Babar (9) OUT BOWLED
Babar Azam 9 (10) Mohammad Rizwan 17 (20)
28-0 after 5 overs: Boult to Babar, 1 run
27-0 after 4.5 overs: Boult to Babar, no run
27-0 after 4.4 overs: Boult to Rizwan, 1 run
26-0 after 4.3 overs: Boult to Rizwan, no run
26-0 after 4.2 overs: Boult to Rizwan, no run
26-0 after 4.1 overs: Boult to Rizwan, 4 runs
Babar Azam 8 (8) Mohammad Rizwan 12 (16)
22-0 after 4 overs: Southee to Babar, 2 runs
20-0 after 3.5 overs: Southee to Rizwan, 1 run
19-0 after 3.4 overs: Southee to Rizwan, 4 runs
15-0 after 3.3 overs: Southee to Rizwan, no run
15-0 after 3.2 overs: Southee to Babar, 1 run
14-0 after 3.1 overs: Southee to Babar, no run
Mohammad Rizwan 7 (13) Babar Azam 5 (5)
14-0 after 3 overs: Boult to Rizwan, no run
14-0 after 2.5 overs: Boult to Rizwan, no run
14-0 after 2.4 overs: Boult to Rizwan, no run
14-0 after 2.3 overs: Boult to Rizwan, no run
13-0 after 2.3 overs: Boult to Rizwan, 1 run WIDE
13-0 after 2.2 overs: Boult to Rizwan, no run
13-0 after 2.1 overs: Boult to Rizwan, 4 runs
Babar Azam 5 (5) Mohammad Rizwan 3 (7)
9-0 after 2 overs: Southee to Babar, no run
9-0 after 1.5 overs: Southee to Babar, no run
9-0 after 1.4 overs: Southee to Rizwan, 1 run
8-0 after 1.3 overs: Southee to Rizwan, no run
8-0 after 1.3 overs: Southee to Rizwan, 1 run WIDE
7-0 after 1.2 overs: Southee to Rizwan, no run
7-0 after 1.1 overs: Southee to Rizwan, no run
Babar Azam 5 (3) Mohammad Rizwan 2 (3)
7-0 after 1 over: Santner to Babar, no run
7-0 after 0.5 over: Santner to Rizwan, 1 run
6-0 after 0.4 over: Santner to Babar, 1 run
5-0 after 0.3 over: Santner to Babar, 4 runs
1-0 after 0.2 over: Santner to Rizwan, 1 run
0-0 after 0.1 over: Santner to Rizwan, no run
0-0 after 0 over: Start of Pakistan's run chase
Story at the break: Another excellent performance by Pakistani bowlers restricted the Black Caps to a total of just 134-8 — a target the Men in Green should have little trouble in tracking down.
The Kiwis did not lose the opening wicket till the sixth over but once Pakistan drew first blood, the floodgates opened up. Wickets kept on tumbling at regular intervals and even though multiple Kiwi batsmen got starts, none could hang at the crease for long.
Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed his maiden four-for in T20Is.
End of the innings
134-8 after 20 overs: Haris to Santner (6) OUT BOWLED
134-7 after 19.5 overs: Haris to Santner, 4 runs
130-7 after 19.4 overs: Haris to Sodhi, 1 run
129-7 after 19.3 overs: Haris to Santner, 1 run
128-7 after 19.2 overs: Haris to Santner, 2 runs
126-7 after 19.1 overs: Haris to Sodhi, 1 run
Mitchell Santner 0 (1)
125-7 after 19 overs: Shaheen to Seifert (8) OUT CAUGHT
125-6 after 18.5 overs: Shaheen to Seifert, 4 runs
121-6 after 18.4 overs: Shaheen to Santner, 1 run leg bye
120-6 after 18.3 overs: Shaheen to Seifert, 1 run
119-6 after 18.2 overs: Shaheen to Seifert, no run
119-6 after 18.1 overs: Shaheen to Seifert, no run
Tim Seifert 3 (3) Mitchell Santner 0 (0)
119-6 after 18 overs: Haris to Seifert, 1 run
118-6 after 17.5 overs: Haris to Seifert, no run
118-6 after 17.4 overs: Haris to Seifert, 2 runs
116-6 after 17.3 overs: Haris to Phillips (13) OUT CAUGHT
116-5 after 17.2 overs: Haris to Phillips, no run
116-5 after 17.1 overs: Haris to Conway (27) OUT CAUGHT
Glenn Phillips 13 (13) Devon Conway 27 (23)
116-4 after 17 overs: Shaheen to Phillips, 4 runs
112-4 after 16.5 overs: Shaheen to Conway, 1 run
111-4 after 16.4 overs: Shaheen to Phillips, 1 run
110-4 after 16.3 overs: Shaheen to Conway, 1 run
109-4 after 16.2 overs: Shaheen to Phillips, 1 run
108-4 after 16.1 overs: Shaheen to Conway, 1 run
Glenn Phillips 8 (10) Devon Conway 24 (20)
107-4 after 16 overs: Hasan to Phillips, 2 runs
105-4 after 15.5 overs: Hasan to Conway, 1 run
104-4 after 15.4 overs: Hasan to Phillips, 1 run
103-4 after 15.3 overs: Hasan to Conway, 1 run
102-4 after 15.2 overs: Hasan to Phillips, 1 run
101-4 after 15.1 overs: Hasan to Conway, 1 run
6:59pm: Pakistan are the favourites for the match and New Zealand the underdogs.
Meanwhile, India, despite their lopsided loss to Pakistan, are still the betting favourites to win the tournament, although the gap between them and the chasing pack has decreased. Pakistan remain third-favourites.
6:54pm: The national anthems are being played.
6:37pm: Playing XIs are in.
Pakistan: 1 Babar Azam (capt.) 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 3 Fakhar Zaman 4 Mohammad Hafeez 5 Shoaib Malik 6 Asif Ali 7 Shadab Khan 8 Imad Wasim 9 Hasan Ali 10 Haris Rauf 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi.
New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill 2 Devon Conway 3 Glenn Phillips 4 Kane Williamson (capt.), 5 Tim Seifert (wk) 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 James Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner 9 Tim Southee 10 Trent Boult, 11 Ish Sodhi.
6:32pm: Pakistan have named an unchanged side.
6:31pm: Babar Azam wins the toss and decided to field - just like he had in the win over India on Sunday.
6:27pm: Minutes before the match toss, New Zealand suffer a big blow as their pacer Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the World Cup.
6:11pm: These Pakistan versus New Zealand jokes are the pre-match banter you've been looking for
6:10pm: Read Dawn's editorial that says Pakistan will seek to avenge the damage caused by New Zealand's pull-out act
6:08pm: Kane Williamson expects no acrimony in Pakistan T20 World Cup match
6:05pm: Check out Syed Marahim Danial's 5 reasons why New Zealand should be very worried about tonight's match.
6:00pm: This is the start of Dawn.com's live thread.