NZ vs PAK: 5 Talking points from New Zealand’s T20I series win over Pakistan
The three-match T20I series between New Zealand and Pakistan concluded on Tuesday with the visitors avoiding a clean sweep. New Zealand had won the first couple of matches to seal the series and in the final game, the Shadab Khan-led side played well to pull one back on the hosts to end the series by 2-1. Here are some of the talking points:
5. Pakistan’s top-order collapsed twice
Babar Azam was ruled out of the T20I series with a thumb injury. And expectedly, Pakistan’s top-order missed him badly. In both the T20Is, the visitors were reeling at 39/5 and 56/4 respectively and they somehow managed to post respectable totals in those games. Early loss of wickets cost Pakistan badly as New Zealand chased down the targets easily in both the matches.
4. Jacob Duffy’s brilliant debut
Best Bowling Figures by New Zealand player on T20I Debut
4/33 – JACOB DUFFY v PAK, 2020 ***
3/20 – Nathan Astle v SA, 2005
3/20 – Jeetan Patel v SA, 2005
3/30 – Seth Rance v WI, 2017
3/31 – Michael Bates v ZIM, 2012#NZvsPAK pic.twitter.com/SE8LWYsJHH— Thurunu Jayasiri (@ThurunuJ) December 18, 2020
New Zealand had rested their top players for the first T20I and it led to the hosts handing a T20I debut to Jacob Duffy. The pacer ended up making his debut memorable as he picked up a four-wicket haul and more importantly, he nipped out four of Pakistan’s top five to break the back of their batting. His figures of 4/20 in four overs also earned him a Man of the Match award.
3. Hafeez’s 99* in the second T20I
Missed his ? by just 1 run 99 not out . Excellent batting by Hafeez #NZvsPAK #PakvsNzpic.twitter.com/GIAtPtle1S
— Mohammad Jamlish Roy (@jamlishsays) December 20, 2020
Mohammad Hafeez is a veteran batsman and he proved his worth in the second T20I helping Pakistan get to a competitive total in a must-win game. He came out to bat at four with the team struggling at 16/2. Condition soon worsened to 56/4 but Hafeez stayed unperturbed and played a magnificent knock of 99 runs. He deserved a hundred nevertheless, he registered a second-highest T20I score for Pakistan ever.
2. Tim Southee’s 4-wicket haul
Tim Southee returned for New Zealand in the second T20I and straightaway played a crucial role in helping the team win the series. He swung the ball nicely and nipped out Pakistan’s top three with not much on the board and ended with the magical figures of 4/21 in his four overs. No wonder that he won the Player of the Match award.
1. Tim Seifert’s excellent form
Tim Seifert hit a purple patch in this series. Opening the innings in all three matches for New Zealand ended up as the top run-getter of the series by a long way. Seifert slammed 176 runs in three outings at a strike-rate of 139.68 and an average of 88. Seifert also won the Player of the Series award and it was well deserved.
