Pakistan (135/5) defeat New Zealand (134/8) by five wickets in a close finish at Sharjah

[MenInG]

Haris Rauf stars with 4/22 as New Zealand are restricted to 134/8 (20) CRR: 6.7 - Pakistan have a great chance to make it 2 in 2 with a win here - Can they do it?


==

All posters please take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:

1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staffs etc.

2. No making fun of player's, official's, coaching staff's names.

3. Do not add any references to media, their social media or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.

4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.

5. Report abuse. If you see any post which is inappropriate, report it. Do not respond to it

 

[Justcrazy]

135 is the target , if pakistan win this , they will seal a semi-final spot !

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Imad with a decent interview, nice and measured but still confident.

 

[FreakCricket]

Babar or Rizwan should retire after whoever scores 50 so other batters can get match practice.

 

[Kroll]

Streets coming good, upto the batters now to vindicate Street’s bowling

 

[silentkiller187]

See out boult and Southee first spell and the. Game s in the bag

 

[Rana]

Don’t mind another 10 wicket win

 

[Justcrazy]

Four by Babar

 

[Rana]

Streets coming good, upto the batters now to vindicate Street’s bowling

The rock thrower on fire

 

[zn426]

I guess it will be Santner up first.
Pakistan doesn't need to do anything special here, just rotate strike and work their way to the target in 15-18 overs.

 

[sindhiboy]

nothing like opening with a spinner to ease babar and rizwan

 

[UzmanBeast]

Take your time.

Babar + Rizwan should not be rushed.

 

[world cup captain]

Babar or Rizwan should retire after whoever scores 50 so other batters can get match practice.

Go for a 10 wicket win if possible. Need to send a message to NZ Cricket.

Instead, open with Fahkar and Hafeez against teams like Scotland and Namibia to give them some time in the middle.

 

[imshally81]

Wide

 

[Bewal Express]

This is going to be tight. NZ make every ounce of talent count

 

[Bewal Express]

A top over from Southie and he has given the other bowlers a template

 

[UzmanBeast]

Put the bad balls away, but focus on strike rotation.

 

[imshally81]

444

 

[Inswing]

What a welcome for boult with four

 

[Justcrazy]

Good start by Southee here

 

[Abdurmirr]

Shot lad

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pakistan just need to put bad ball away. nothing stupid.

 

[silentkiller187]

Treatment for boult from rizzy bhaii

 

[shamaan]

Rizwan picks up length so quick

 

[silentkiller187]

Nz won’t give annoy freebies in the field need to pick the gaps well

 

[Rana]

Too many dot balls by Rizwan

 

[castortroy]

Think this will be a tough chase. Kiwis got a very good attack and excellent fielders

 

[world cup captain]

No need to rush things. Overs from Sodhi and Santner could be targeted.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Getting settled matters here.

A few dots early won't hamper our chances.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Solid start. need a few boundaries though.

 

[imshally81]

4444...finally

 

[Inswing]

FOUR. Rizwan have improved so much just wow.

 

[Ashmal]

NZ bowling tight lines...Pakistan need to stay patient and rotate the strike

 

[UzmanBeast]

Respect the good bowling, once you start timing it, you can focus on taking the role of the aggressor.

 

[Abdurmirr]

Pitch does seem a bit slow.

Once again the importance of Babar+ Rizwan being put on display

 

[silentkiller187]

As I keep repeating this ain’t a batting road 150 would have been tough just need to rotate strike and not do anything silly not as easy as india chase yet posters. We’re saying 200 pitch

 

[Ashmal]

Guptill has already saved 2 boundaries....gun fielder

 

[castortroy]

Rizwan looks in ridiculous form

 

[imshally81]

Another boundary

 

[shamaan]

Shot of the game wow

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Southee making the same mistake as Bhuvi and shami made the other night. Angling it into Rizwan . Better to pack offside and bowl legcutters.

 

[world cup captain]

As I keep repeating this ain’t a batting road 150 would have been tough just need to rotate strike and not do anything silly not as easy as india chase yet posters. We’re saying 200 pitch

Dew will set in during the latter half. It's safe to remove 10-15 runs from the total.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Keep wickets.

Rotate strike.

 

[Nado_]

Loving the Sharjah crowd, seeing pak play well , full Sharjah crowd at night time, just brings back some sweet memories

 

[UzmanBeast]

This pitch has inconsistent bounce.

Just keep wickets, play each ball on merit, and make them play to your strength which is strike rotation.

 

[Rana]

Babar having one of those days where he can’t time the ball.

This could be interesting

 

[Nasty Naz]

Definitely looks like a difficult pitch to bat on. Our batsmen are struggling to time the ball as well.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Babar having one of those days where he can’t time the ball.

This could be interesting

No, I think he timed the life out of his first ball.

Just trying to rotate strike.

 

[Abdurmirr]

NZ lacking an express pacer like we had with Rauf.

Just need to see out Boult + Southee and target their 5th bowler

 

[Inswing]

What a pathetic way to get out babar

 

[castortroy]

Yeah this is going to be a struggle for sure. Keeping very low

 

[Rana]

That was on the cards

Babar was struggling massively on this deck

 

[silentkiller187]

Silly shot from babar

 

[Inswing]

babar having one of those days where he can’t time the ball.

This could be interesting

out

 

[Nasty Naz]

Yeah you could tell that was coming. Babar was mistiming everything.

 

[shamaan]

Babar Struggled

 

[Abdurmirr]

Rizwan is key tonight.

Needs to bat the whole way through

 

[Zeshan547]

This pitch has inconsistent bounce.

Just keep wickets, play each ball on merit, and make them play to your strength which is strike rotation.

You never expect such a hackfull Hoick from Bobby, You are better than this man.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Babar did not need to do that.

Unnecessary.

Fakhar needs to come in and rotate strike.

Rizwan needs to get set.

 

[Inswing]

Time for fakhar to shine.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

What an irresponsible shot

 

[Nado_]

Should’ve just focused on rotation of strike but no matter.

 

[Rana]

Rizwan had got his start so he should do the job

 

[Rajdeep]

Pak needs to be careful...this is not Dubai. I have said this beginning of the match. Chasing is not easy in Sharjah based on latest IPL.

 

[silentkiller187]

Fauji needs to play h is natural game let rizzy anchor

 

[castortroy]

Slow and low. Think the pitch has got worse

 

[JibranAnsari]

This is going to be a very tough chase.

 

[Nasty Naz]

I hope Fakhar doesn't go at the ball too hard early on. Get the timing down first.

 

[Inswing]

Ball is keeping very low.

 

[UzmanBeast]

On this pitch, boundaries will hurt no doubt, but singles and doubles will hurt the opposition as well.

Conserve wickets, and be smart in which bowler you take on.

 

[Rana]

Pakistan need to play more confidently

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Surprised that Babar gave away his wicket so cheaply, this wicket is not easy, him and Rizwan really should have been looking to play through the line for the first 8-10 overs.

 

[Rana]

Pp is NZ’s IMO

 

[Inswing]

Just keep wickets in hand and this match is our only.

 

[Major]

This could get interesting

 

[Nado_]

Pp is NZ’s IMO

If they had one or two wickets

 

[Rana]

Need some sixes to ease the pressure

 

[Rana]

Keep going Rizzy

The crowd needs to stay loud

 

[Omer2002]

Brainless this...u need to be educated here..accross the line hacks r not neeeded ball stayin low just play straight

 

[UzmanBeast]

Just rotate strike and make sure that you keep wickets.