Mitchell, Phillips power Black Caps to another T20 win
At Hagley Oval, Christchurch: Pakistan 158-5 (Mohammad Rizwan 90n.o off 63; Matt Henry 2-22 off 4, Lockie Ferguson 2-27 off 4) lost to Black Caps 159-3 (Daryl Mitchell 72no off 44, Glenn Phillips 70no off 52; Shaheen Afridi 3-34 off 4) by seven wickets.
Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips dug the Black Caps out of a giant hole to continue Pakistan’s T20 series misery.
New Zealand made it four straight wins over Pakistan in front of a sellout crowd of 8750 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on a balmy summer’s night, prevailing by seven wickets.
The duo came together with New Zealand on the ropes at 20-3, chasing 159, producing a match-winning unbroken 139-run fourth wicket stand. New Zealand got home comfortably with 11 balls to spare.
Phillips and Mitchell frustrated Pakistan after they made a stellar start with the ball and then teed off late in the innings to inflict more pain.
Mitchell showed why he went for NZ$2.7 million in the recent IPL auction to the Chennai Super Kings, hitting an unbeaten 72 from 44 balls, while Phillips was brilliant too with 70 not out from 52 balls.
Pakistan would have been livid with two fielding errors which proved costly. Mohammed Wasim should have caught Mitchell in the deep when he was on 19, but misjudged the ball in the lights and was slow to run in.
Mitchell had another life on 35 when he was shelled at long-on by Sahibzada Farhan in the 14th over.
With Mitchell and Phillips at the crease, New Zealand were 114-3 at the 15-over mark, needing 45 from 30.
Defending 158, Pakistan had to start well with the ball and captain Shaheen Afridi led from the front.
Pakistan were desperate to see the back of the dangerous Finn Allen, who smacked a New Zealand T20I best 137 from only 62 balls in Wednesday’s win in Dunedin, belting 16 sixes.
Afridi let out a huge fist pump after he forced a leading edge from Allen with the fourth ball of the run chase, having been hit for back-to-back boundaries. He had two in the over, giving Pakistan a dream start when Tim Seifert perished, chipping to Babar Azam at mid-on.
New Zealand were in strife when Afridi had a third in his next over with Will Young, stepping in for Devon Conway, who was ruled out with Covid-19, well held by Mohammad Nawaz at short midwicket. That left the Black Caps 20-3 in the third over with plenty to do.
Enter Phillips and Mitchell, who brought New Zealand back into the match with a critical stand.
It was run a ball stuff from both batters for a chunk of their stand, until they upped the scoring in the back 10.
Pakistan got through to a below par score of 158-5, anchored by opener Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 90 from 63 balls.
Rizwan was outstanding, carrying his bat, hitting six fours and two sixes when it looked like Pakistan might struggle to reach the 150-mark after being 86-4 in the 13th.
Rizwan’s knock and a 21 not out cameo from Nawaz, off nine balls, was key in getting Pakistan to a respectable total.
Nawaz smacked Adam Milne, in his 50th T20I, 13 years and 24 days on since his debut in 2010, for three straight sixes in Pakistan’s penultimate over.
Pakistan finally got to bat first in the series after being sent in by New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner.
Matt Henry had the Hagley faithful roaring early, striking in his first over at his home ground, the second of the innings. Mitchell bobbled the catch at slip, but regathered the second attempt to send opener Saim Ayub on his way.
Henry was the pick of the Black Caps’ bowlers, taking 2-22, and able to get movement early. Santner was also miserly with his left-arm spin, conceding just 23 runs from four overs.
The sides meet again at Hagley in the final match of the series on Sunday (1pm start).
SOURCE:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350149067/mitchell-phillips-power-black-caps-another-t20-win