AUCKLAND: Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 48 runs in the second T20 inAuckland Thursday to level the series and score their first win of the tourover the Black Caps.
The visitors set an imposing target of 202 thanks to half-centuries fromBabar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, then bowled out New Zealand for 153 with nineballs to spare.
Pakistan made 201 for four in the second T20 against New Zealand atAuckland’s Eden Park on Thursday.
Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman jointly top-scored with 50 apiece for thetourists, while Ben Wheeler was New Zealand’s best bowler with two for 36.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss link> and electedto bat link> in the second Twenty20 against NewZealand at Auckland’s Eden Park on Thursday.
The tourists are down 1-0 and looking to reverse a form slump to keep thethree-match series alive.
“It looks a good batting pitch so hopefully we can come up with a goodscore then defend it,” captain Sarfraz Ahmed said.
“I’ve just told the boys ‘play your natural game, don’t worry about theresult, we have nothing to lose’.”
Pakistan recalled opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad in a bid to make a strongstart as they chase their first win on tour against the Black Caps.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson returns for the hosts after missing thefirst match with a thigh strain.
Trent Boult is also back alongside rookie paceman Ben Wheeler, while TimSouthee is rested.
The three-match series will finish in Tauranga on Sunday.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), TomBruce, Glenn Phillips, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ben Wheeler,Ish Sodhi, Seth Rance, Trent Boult.
link>Pakistanlink> : Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, BabarAzam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Amin, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf,Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees.
Series: New Zealand lead the three-match series 1-0
Umpires: Shaun Haig (NZL), Chris Brown (NZL)
TV Umpire: Wayne Knights (NZL)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS