Pakistan’s hopes of salvaging some pride in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand received a major blow as their talismanic batter, Babar Azam, fell victim to a vicious 150 kph bouncer from Adam Milne.
Babar Azam, who had been in sublime form throughout the series with scores of 57, 66, and 58, looked poised to continue his rampage once again. However, facing the final delivery of the seventh over, he encountered a delivery he simply couldn’t handle.
Milne unleashed a thunderous yorker that clocked in at a staggering 149.5 kph. Babar Azam, attempting a hurried pull shot, was completely outpaced by the sheer speed and ferocity of the delivery. The result? A towering top edge that soared high into the sky before landing safely in the hands of a gleeful Glenn Phillips at deep mid-wicket.
Babar’s dismissal, for a mere 19 off 11 balls, brought his incredible fifty-streak to a crashing halt. It was a brutal reminder of the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where even the most in-form batsman can be undone by a single unplayable delivery.
Babar Azam out early, Rizwan-Nawaz to rescue
Pakistan had another stuttering start with the bat in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, losing Saim Ayub early on. However, the familiar pairing of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan provided some much-needed stability before Azam’s unfortunate dismissal put a dent in their momentum.
Babar, who had been in sublime form throughout the series, fell cheaply, leaving Mohammad Rizwan to carry the innings on his shoulders. Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed failed to contribute significantly, further exposing Pakistan’s fragile middle order.
Despite the lack of support from his teammates, Rizwan stood firm, anchoring the innings with a stunning 90* that included some delightful slog sweeps over the boundary. He found a late ally in Nawaz, who smashed three consecutive sixes off Adam Milne in the penultimate over to give Pakistan a much-needed boost. In their their assigned 20 overs, Pak made a sub-par total of 158/5/
New Zealand’s bowlers were disciplined and clinical throughout the innings. Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult were economical, while Lockie Ferguson picked up a couple of crucial wickets. The Black Caps’ fielding was also sharp, ensuring that Pakistan never really got out of first gear.
Can Pakistan find a way to fight back, or will the Black Caps march towards a clean sweep in the series?
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