New Zealand (224/7) defeat Pakistan (179/7) by 45 runs in the third T20I to go 3-0 up in the 5-match series

[ask_analyse_act]

As I have said previously- babar is the least of pak problems. He is still the best batsman in this pak side. Others have to step up. He alone can't score 200 runs

Glad at least there are ppl who can ack this fact

they moved him to no.3 but he is still performing , he is the only world class player unfortunately he ended up playing for a mediocre team like Pak that’s the only regret.

 

[Mamoon]

We deserve this humiliation.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Pakistan giving away 200 every match is horrible

Courtesy brainless kaptaan

He should have been thrown back to domestics to get his pace back but they made him captain lol

Rauf this guy is simply clueless , bowls pace outside off and get whacked all round the park

 

[ask_analyse_act]

We deserve this humiliation.

More to come under Mr. Hafeez prof

 

[Mamoon]

More to come under Mr. Hafeez prof

Pakistan is the least talented cricket nation in history. No point in blaming Hafeez or any individual.

 

[MenInG]

Dunedin, 17 January 2024: New Zealand won the third T20I at University Oval, Dunedin by 45 runs taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. After being put to bat first, New Zealand put a mammoth total of 224-7, owing to a brilliant century by Finn Allen. In reply, Pakistan could only manage 179-7 in their 20 overs.

Pakistan won the toss and invited New Zealand to bat first. Although opening batter Devon Conway (7, 8b, 1x4) departed early, falling to Haris Rauf in the fourth over, Allen and Tim Seifert gave New Zealand a breezy start. A 125-run second-wicket partnership between the two allowed the home side to gain control of the innings.

Mohammad Wasim Jnr provided the breakthrough for Pakistan by removing Seifert, who walked back after scoring 31 from 23, including three fours and a six.

Allen went on to complete his second century in T20Is before he was removed by Zaman Khan in the 18th over. The opening batter produced an impressive 137 from 62, including five fours and a record 16 maximums. He was later adjudged player of the match for the second consecutive time.

Glenn Phillips (19, 15b, 1x4, 1x6) was the other contributor with the bat as New Zealand crossed the 200-run mark for the second time in the series. The Pakistan attack had a rough day at the office, with each bowler conceding in excess of eight runs an over. Haris bagged two wickets while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman, Wasim and Nawaz accounted for one each.

Opening batter Saim Ayub (10, 13b, 2x4s) was dismissed inside the powerplay of the Pakistan chase, courtesy of Tim Southee. A 39-run partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan brought a semblance of stability to the chase, however, it was cut short by Mitchell Santner who removed Rizwan (24, 20b, 2x6s).

Pakistan’s top run-getter of the innings, Babar, completed his third consecutive half-century (58, 37b, 8x4s, 1x6) before he fell to Ish Sodhi. Fakhar Zaman (19, 10b, 2x4s, 1x6) got a start as well before Lockie Ferguson dismissed him.

Nawaz (28, 15b, 2x4s, 2x6s) stitched a 40-run seventh wicket stand with his captain Shaheen (16 not out, 11b, 1x4, 1x6) though the result seemed like a foregone conclusion by then.

Southee, who picked up two wickets at the expense of 29 runs in his allotted four overs, was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand as the home side successfully restricted Pakistan to 179-7 in 20 overs to win the game by 45 runs.

The fourth game between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played on 19 January at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The first ball is expected to be bowled at 1110 PKT and the toss will take place at 1040 PKT.

Scores in brief:

New Zealand won against Pakistan by 45 runs

New Zealand 224-7, 20 overs (Finn Allen 137, Tim Seifert 31, Glenn Phillips 19; Haris Rauf 2-60)

Pakistan 179-7, 20 overs (Babar Azam 58, Mohammad Nawaz 28, Mohammad Rizwan 24; Tim Southee 2-29)

Player of the match - Finn Allen (New Zealand)

 

[sam_ahm]

Pakistan hasn't been doing well in nz for a decade now

Well they won a tri series very recently in 2022 I think, in the T20 format.

Pakistan hasn't been doing well in nz for a decade now

Well they haven't been doing well anywhere these days, not even at home. At least last time in 2022 they did win the Tri Series in NZ and generally against NZ they don't get whitewashed or kind of lose so easily.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Gert rinsed by NZ in what is comfortably your strongest format must be a tough pill to swallow.

But , this NZ batting lineup is starting to look ridiculously strong

1. Conway
2. Allen
3. Rachin
4. Mitchell
5. Chapman
6. Phillips
7. Neesham
8. Santner

is an exceptionally strong white ball batting lineup . Williamson shouldn't be able to get into this lineup imo.

I'm not sure of Pakistan's chances at the World T20 to be honest.

Won't be a disaster like the 50 over one but PAK simply don't have the talent to go all the way here either.

 

[Adiram]

Glad at least there are ppl who can ack this fact

they moved him to no.3 but he is still performing , he is the only world class player unfortunately he ended up playing for a mediocre team like Pak that’s the only regret.

The real problem is with us only. It is same in India and Pakistan, probably less in other countries. With few good performances, we elevate a player to sky high and start comparing him with ATG players of past and the present. This will put lot of pressure on the player to keep the image and perform consistently to that level. When the player have a lean patch, which is inevitable, we criticize them heavily which in turn put pressure not only on the player, on the cricket board also, which results in taking some hasty decisions.

Many of us criticized Babar's captaincy and the board changed the captains but the fate was not changed. If we are balanced, allowed Babar to play his natural cricket without comparing his performance with Kohli, Ponting, Root, Williams etc., he would have played freely and captained the side better. Please let me know the player or captain who can replace Babar in Pakistan. We should have given him required support and strength to perform.

If we continue like this, we may ruin the careers of few good players.

 

[zaidihusain]

To chase a target of 225 in T20s you need 1 or 2 blinders but despite that the series was on the line this failed team management sticked with conventional approach and didn't change the batting order. Ideally Azam or Fakhar should have opened with Saim but they started with Rizwan and then Babar came 1 down. First 8 overs including 6 of PP were totally wasted by Saim-Rizwan-Babar and then Fakhar came on the last ball of 8th over and Azam came on last ball of 11th over when the game was already lost. Sometimes you need to think out of the box even if it comes at the cost of some losses. In late 90s Wasim Akram used to send Abdur Razaq 1 down to up the tempo, even Nawaz won 1 game against India when he was promoted. The blame for this loss should go to Saim-Babar-Rizwan for their combined score of 92 of 70 balls including 6 overs of PP.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Only Babar is not enough to chase these kinds of huge targets. Other batters have to join the party as well. If they are failing every game and babar is scoring runs with 150 plus strike rate, then babar is not the problem here, rest of 10 players are.

 

[TheRock]

Credit goes to Bangladesh for being able to draw the T20 series (1-1) against NZ in NZ last month. This NZ side looks solid. It's almost the same side that played against Bang.

 

[Markhor]

While disappointing to lose three in a row - the results of bilateral T20Is shouldn't be overanalysed ! The bigger question is are we closer to identifying the right combination going into the T20 World Cup ?

I don't think so. Firstly, our T20 template for years, given our lack of big hitters, was to back our bowlers to restrict opponents to middling totals (150-180) that our batsmen can manage. However we're conceding 200+ totals which we've no chance of chasing.

The immediate cause is the expensiveness of our pacers. It began at the ODI WC and has carried into T20s. Given our lack of quality spinners, we're wholly dependent on our pacers to both take wickets and provide control. But they turn to mush when attacked. We saw it today against Finn Allen, against David Warner and Mitchell Marsh at the World Cup, against Virat Kohli in 2022 at MCG etc.

Batting-wise - while it's good we're trying a different opening pair, I hope Saim Ayub's superfans now realise bashing mediocre attacks in CPL/PAK FC is no guarantee of doing the same against international bowlers. He's now had 10 T20I innings without a single 50 and at an ordinary SR. He must start justifying the hype.

Finally a request to Shaheen - next time you win the toss please bat first.

 

[Omer2002]

Bangladesh are a better team there is no cohesion only leg side sloggers in our team we fluked 5th position in the one day world cup lets see what these clowns do in the 2020 ones

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Babar Azam is neither a power hitter nor a finisher. He is classical batsman like Alma, Jaywardhane, Rahane etc. Comparisons with Kohli really damaged his career.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Babar Azam is neither a power hitter nor a finisher. He is classical batsman like Alma, Jaywardhane, Rahane etc. Comparisons with Kohli really damaged his career.

How is Babar Azam's career damaged?

 

[ritzy_123]

It is as simple as that we are trying to fix which was not the problem..

1) Babar Azam
2) M. Rizwan (WK)
3) Fakhar Zaman
4) Sahibzada Farhan
5) Muhammad Haris
6) Iftikhar Ahmed or Salman Ali Agha
7) Shadab Khan
8) Shaheen Shah Afridi
9) Hasan Ali (ATM because Naseem is not there for New Ball)
10) Abbas Afridi
11) Zaman Khan

Easily this team can be picked logically in my opinion but we're just trying to change the opening combination which makes no sense at all and give the captaincy to Rizwan.. Shaheen should first focus on his fitness and form

 

[The Scorer]

New Zealand have moved on terms of T20 , it's now about power hitting and clearing the ropes for 6. One way to combat this is to use guile and take pace off the ball and high class spin. 4 seamers feeding them with pace on the ball is just playing into their hands. Shadab Khan used to be able to put the brakes on by mixing it up.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

How is Babar Azam's career damaged?

Putting pressure on him to live upto high expectations early in his career

 

[Savak]

Selection of Haris Rauf and Shaheen is absurd right now, both need to be benched for other options

 

[Kroll]

Truly awful and pathetic side, difficult to get behind lulloos like Rauf and Shaheen's fallen off a cliff.

 

[Savak]

Pakistan's bench strength is overhyped and often flatters to deceive. Compare that to India, every Indian youngster who gets an opportunity to play against big teams performs instantly but that is not the case with our boys. This testifies that India's domestic cricket, U19, A teams, IPL and Indian domestic coaches are doing a way superior job of preparing Indian players for the rigors of International Cricket

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

Pakistan's bench strength is overhyped and often flatters to deceive. Compare that to India, every Indian youngster who gets an opportunity to play against big teams performs instantly but that is not the case with our boys. This testifies that India's domestic cricket, U19, A teams, IPL and Indian domestic coaches are doing a way superior job of preparing Indian players for the rigors of International Cricket

As every pakistan supporter knows the PCB is not run in a professional manner and has countless 100s of people claiming to be "admin" staff and getting a pay cheque because they belong to the fake "government" running the country.

The benchmark is Australia for every side.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Only Babar is not enough to chase these kinds of huge targets. Other batters have to join the party as well. If they are failing every game and babar is scoring runs with 150 plus strike rate, then babar is not the problem here, rest of 10 players are.

Babar is not totally in the clear. When the innings start asking rate 11. After 8 overs it goes over 12.5 then it is on Babar. He has to keep the asking rate along with Rizwan.

 

[Savak]

The problem with our power hitters is all of them are unreliable inconsistent hacks who lack 360 stroke play, all the opposition has to do is figure out their strong and weak areas and bowl accordingly.

Players like Babar and Rizwan become a must because the later cannot be relied upon to hit consistently successfully without getting out. Babar and Rizwan as frustrating as their lack of power game are ultimately the difference b/w being 115 runs all out and posting 175-190 runs on the board and playing out the full 20 overs.

 

[Mainul]

Pakistan is the least talented cricket nation in history. No point in blaming Hafeez or any individual.

You mean more than Bangladesh, right?

 

[Kroll]

You mean more than Bangladesh, right?

Oh they don't even come into the picture. Some of the lowest ranked teams playing cricket are Samoa, Mali, Croatia and Greece so by definition, Pak is less talented than them.

 

[Aami]

The problem with our power hitters is all of them are unreliable inconsistent hacks who lack 360 stroke play, all the opposition has to do is figure out their strong and weak areas and bowl accordingly.

Players like Babar and Rizwan become a must because the later cannot be relied upon to hit consistently successfully without getting out. Babar and Rizwan as frustrating as their lack of power game are ultimately the difference b/w being 115 runs all out and posting 175-190 runs on the board and playing out the full 20 overs.

spot on

 

[shamaan]

Look at the size of the New Zealand Arms.
Look at the size of Pakistan Twig arms.

 

[Mainul]

Oh they don't even come into the picture. Some of the lowest ranked teams playing cricket are Samoa, Mali, Croatia and Greece so by definition, Pak is less talented than them.

How can a poster with such a good knowledge of cricket with so many POTS winner can say that I don't know. A country of Imran, Muandad, Two W's Saqlain, Shoib, Inji, Anwar, Yousuf, Younis, Zahir , Qadir, Hanif and so many talented cricketers is the least talented!!!

 

[Kroll]

How can a poster with such a good knowledge of cricket with so many POTS winner can say that I don't know. A country of Imran, Muandad, Two W's Saqlain, Shoib, Inji, Anwar, Yousuf, Younis, Zahir , Qadir, Hanif and so many talented cricketers is the least talented!!!

Sadly those were the zenith days, now is the era of Azam Khan, Iftikhar and Rauf.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

To chase a target of 225 in T20s you need 1 or 2 blinders but despite that the series was on the line this failed team management sticked with conventional approach and didn't change the batting order. Ideally Azam or Fakhar should have opened with Saim but they started with Rizwan and then Babar came 1 down. First 8 overs including 6 of PP were totally wasted by Saim-Rizwan-Babar and then Fakhar came on the last ball of 8th over and Azam came on last ball of 11th over when the game was already lost. Sometimes you need to think out of the box even if it comes at the cost of some losses. In late 90s Wasim Akram used to send Abdur Razaq 1 down to up the tempo, even Nawaz won 1 game against India when he was promoted. The blame for this loss should go to Saim-Babar-Rizwan for their combined score of 92 of 70 balls including 6 overs of PP.

It you watched the game you would know that the NZ bowlers bowled according to the wicket and hit the right lengths which made it difficult to hit and score of for our batters.

Our bowlers bowled too many in the slot balls which Allen capitalised on and deserves credit for.

if you look at the scorecard his innings is the only score of note in the NZ innings.

Questions need to be asked about the bowling plans and strategies.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

Sadly those were the zenith days, now is the era of Azam Khan, Iftikhar and Rauf.

He said history which is why he should be trolled.

 

[Savak]

It you watched the game you would know that the NZ bowlers bowled according to the wicket and hit the right lengths which made it difficult to hit and score of for our batters.

Our bowlers bowled too many in the slot balls which Allen capitalised on and deserves credit for.

if you look at the scorecard his innings is the only score of note in the NZ innings.

Questions need to be asked about the bowling plans and strategies.

The performance of Shaheen and Rauf is criminal given their experience in this format. It is not written in stone that these guys have to play every T-20 game for Pakistan. Youngsters have done much better. I would not have been that annoyed losing 5-0 to NZ provided we selected a playing 11 filled with youngsters. T20 format is all about giving chances to your bench players.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

The performance of Shaheen and Rauf is criminal given their experience in this format. It is not written in stone that these guys have to play every T-20 game for Pakistan. Youngsters have done much better. I would not have been that annoyed losing 5-0 to NZ provided we selected a playing 11 filled with youngsters. T20 format is all about giving chances to your bench players.

I agree Shaheen and Rauf were under par.

My point was our bowlers bowled too many in the slot balls which Allen capitalised on and the NZ bowlers in contrast bowled the right line and lengths and mixed up their pace which made it harder for our players to hit.

I totally agree I have stated in many a post that we should try out our bench strength in this format but its Shaheen s first series as skipper so that was going to be unlikely with just 14 odd games left before the T20 WC.

Numbers 5, 6 and 7 is a problem area in the batting and a quality spinner with Abrar out injured.

Hopefully Farhan and Haseebullah get a chance in the next 2 along with Jamal.

 

[The Scorer]

Power rather than finesse is becoming more important in T20. NZ are powerful guys, the same shot and ball goes for 6 where likely to go for 4 with Pakistan. If the total goes above 200 it becomes unchasable. Pakistan's have to to keep the NZ score below 200.

 

[Aman]

Credit goes to Bangladesh for being able to draw the T20 series (1-1) against NZ in NZ last month. This NZ side looks solid. It's almost the same side that played against Bang.

Different pitches.

Pakistan could be up 3-0 if they had the same pitches from that series.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Different pitches.

Pakistan could be up 3-0 if they had the same pitches from that series.

I doubt so. Shoriful > Shaheen based on what i saw recently.

 

[Aman]

I doubt so. Shoriful > Shaheen based on what i saw recently.

Nah those pitches weren't flat and had good movement. Scores of 150-160 were good that series.

Our batsmen struggled to score runs because they couldn't get a read of the pace or bounce in the pitches. They need flat pitches to go hard.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Nah those pitches weren't flat and had good movement. Scores of 150-160 were good that series.

Our batsmen struggled to score runs because they couldn't get a read of the pace or bounce in the pitches. They need flat pitches to go hard.

It doesn't matter . You still need to bowl and bat well on those decks. PAK are on a 5 match losing streak to NZ, dating back the series in Pakistan.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Whitewash is imminent if the players continue to perform like they did recently. I see no flare in the players and they are not giving 100% on the field.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

Whitewash is imminent if the players continue to perform like they did recently. I see no flare in the players and they are not giving 100% on the field.

Saim, Fakhar, Azam, Jamal etc have flair its just a question of confidence and putting in all together as a unit.

There seems to be a team spirit with players enjoying each others company, training together etc so it should all help.

we need some patience and perspective with Shaheen only a captain for 3 games.