Malik, Asif shine as Pakistan register second successive win at T20 World Cup

SHARJAH: Asif Ali and Shoaib Malik helped Pakistan register an impressive five-wicket win against New Zealand in their T20 World Cup match on Tuesday, with the team recovering in its run-chase after being reduced to 87 for five.

In pursuit of 135, Pakistan needed another 48 runs off 30 deliveries when Ali joined veteran Malik at the crease.

A quickfire partnership, however, helped the team clinch its second-successive win in the mega event, also paving way for a spot in the semi-finals.

Earlier, Mohammad Hafeez fell to a superb diving catch near the boundary while Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed in the next over as Pakistan faltered in their run-chase against New Zealand in Sharjah on Tuesday.

Chasing 135 to win, Pakistan were reduced to 70 for four in 12 overs. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam were the previous batters to be dismissed.

Shoaib Malik was joined by Imad Wasim at the crease. However, Wasim was dismissed soon enough as Pakistan were placed at a precarious 87 for five.

Babar Azam was dismissed in the sixth over as Pakistan chased a 135-run target in their Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 match against New Zealand in Sharjah on Tuesday.

Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman are at the crease with the score 30 for one after six overs.

Earlier, the side, led by Azam, restricted New Zealand by grabbing wickets at regular intervals. Haris Rauf stood out with a four-wicket haul. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, and Imad Wasim took one wicket apiece.

For New Zealand, Devon Conway was the highest run-scorer with 27 off 24 deliveries.

Pakistan grabbed their first wicket in the sixth over as Harif Rauf dismissed Martin Guptill. Imad Wasim then dismissed the other opener, Daryl Mitchell, before Mohammad Hafeez got rid of James Neesham. Pakistan struck twice in the space of five deliveries.

At the end of six overs, New Zealand were 42 for one.

Earlier, New Zealand were off to a slow but steady start, reaching 36 for no loss after five overs.

Captain Babar Azam won the toss and put New Zealand into bat.

Pakistan, champions in 2009, kept the same team that beat arch-rivals India by 10 wickets in Dubai on Sunday.

New Zealand, playing their first game in the tournament, were jolted by a calf injury to spearhead Lockie Ferguson minutes before the match.

Ferguson is ruled out of the World Cup and his replacement Adam Milne can only be selected once approval is granted by the International Cricket Council technical committee.

Pakistan end decades-old wait with 10-wicket thrashing of India

Squads

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi

Umpires: Michael Gough (ENG) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG)

TV Umpire: Paul Wilson (AUS)

Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

This is a developing story, and will be updated accordingly. This page does not refresh automatically