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NZ vs PAK: Salman Agha falls for 46 (Photograph: X)
Pakistan took on hosts New Zealand in the second T20I match at the University Oval in Dunedin on Tuesday. The hosts had won the first match of the series with an ease after Pakistan were bowled out for just 91. Salman Agha, who is leading the Men in Green in the T20I series waged a lone battle with the bat scoring 46 runs.
The 31-year-old scored his runs off just 28 balls with four boundaries and three huge sixes. Ben Sears bowled a short ball that Salman tried to play the pull shot but couldn’t get his timing right. Mark Chapman who was fielding at square leg came in running and took a tumbling catch to end Pakistan skipper’s stay at the crease.
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Constant rain in Dunedin meant that the game began late and was reduced to 15-overs per side. New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell won the toss and chose to bowl first in what was a green wicket. The hosts made two changes, Kyle Jamieson and Tim Robinson were rested for the game as Ben Sears and James Neesham came in. For Pakistan, Haris Rauf came in for Abrar Ahmed.
Salman Agha and Shadab Khan help Pakistan score 135
Put into bat, the visitors lost Hasan Nawaz for a duck in the first over to Jacob Duffy. Ben Sears then struck when he got the wicket of Mohammad Haris for 11 runs. Salman Agha and Irfan Khan added 39 runs for the third wicket in 21 balls. The stand was broken when Ish Sodhi got the wicket of Irfan for 11 runs.
Sodhi struck again getting the wicket of Khushdil Shah for two runs. Shadab Khan joined his skipper as the pair added 24 runs for the fifth wicket in 14 balls. Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, Shadab continued to attack the Kiwi bowlers. His innings eventually ended when he was out for 26 runs off 14 balls with two fours and two sixes.
Shaheen Shah Afridi then gave the innings much needed impetus with his 14-ball 22 not out. His innings contained two fours and a six as Pakistan reached 135 runs for the loss of nine wickets from their 15 overs. For the Kiwis, Jacob Duffy, Neesham , Sodhi, and Sears picked two wickets each.