Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam has discussed the team’s defeat against New Zealand in the third T20I match on Sunday.
He mentioned that the national team didn’t manage to score enough runs to protect their target effectively. Babar added during the post-match event that although the slow run-rate during the middle overs might have been a factor, they had managed to recover, but still fell short by approximately 10 runs.
Regrettably, Rizwan faced an injury setback, making it difficult for new batsmen; however, Shadab Khan recovered impressively and had a remarkable partnership with Irfan. Typically, scoring around 180-190 runs is considered a par score in Pindi.
The captain commented that the team performed well in batting, as they achieved a 179-run target with four wickets down after being asked to bat first at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Nevertheless, the Black Caps impressively staged a remarkable recovery in the five-match T20I series, largely due to Mark Chapman’s exceptional leadership.
They secured a seven-wicket win for the visitors in the third match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. In the beginning, New Zealand’s pursuit of the 179-run target was off to a strong start, with openers Tim Robinson (28) and Tim Seifert (21) contributing 42 runs together for the first wicket.
The home team attempted a thrilling recovery, as Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi dismissed two players in succession. However, Chapman and Dean Foxcroft effectively countered their strategy.
Now, the series stands tied at 1-1, with two upcoming matches on April 25th and 27th at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. In the earlier match, Pakistan’s openers, Saim Ayub and Babar, scored 54 runs without losing a wicket. Saim, scoring 32 runs from 22 balls at a remarkable strike rate of 145.45, was eventually caught by James Neesham due to Ish Sodhi’s bowling.
Babar appeared impressive, yet he was caught by Jacob Duffy, who was bowled by Michael Bracewell. Babar managed to secure 37 runs from 29 deliveries, maintaining a remarkable strike rate of 127.5.
In the meantime, Mohammad Rizwan had to leave the game due to injury after scoring 23 runs from 22 balls. Irfan Khan took his place on the field.
Unfortunately, Usman Khan struggled to score once again and was dismissed after making only 4 runs from 6 balls.
Together with all-rounder Shadab, Irfan formed an impressive partnership, characterized by their explosive batting. Shadab took the lead, scoring 41 runs from 20 balls, including six boundaries. Simultaneously, Irfan contributed significantly, ending with 30 runs from 20 balls, hitting three fours and a six.
