Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets

Fast bowler Haris Rauf returned excellent figures of 422, while there was wicket apiece for Shaheen Afridi, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Hafeez.Brief scores New Zealand 1348 in 20 overs Daryl Mitchell 27, Devon Conway 27 Haris Rauf 422.Pakistan 1355 in 18.4 overs Mohammad Rizwan 33, Shoaib Malik 26 not out, Asif Ali 27 not out Ish Sodhi 228.

Pakistan registered their second consecutive win in the ICC T20 World Cup, beating New Zealand by five wickets in their Super 12 match here on Tuesday.

Sent into bat, New Zealand were restricted to 134 for eight. Pakistan completed the task with eight balls to spare and, in a way, exacted revenge for what they considered an off-field snub by the Kiwis in the run-up to the T20 showpiece.

New Zealand had pulled out of a tour of Pakistan last month citing security concerns, leaving the host nation disappointed and angry.

Chasing a modest target of 135, Pakistan lost their in-from skipper Babar Azam for 9 with the total reading 28 in the sixth over. Mohammad Rizwan contributed 33, even as Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez got out for identical score of 11. However, Asif Ali (27 not out) and the experienced Shoiab Malik (26) joined forces and took the match away from New Zealand with their sensible batting. Earlier, New Zealand were restricted to 134 for eight in their Group 2 game.

None of New Zealand batters could make substantial scores at the comparatively smaller Sharjah Cricket Ground. Opener Daryl Mitchell made 27, skipper Kane Williamson contributed 25 while Devon Conway managed to score 27 as the Kiwis struggled to get going against Pakistan's formidable bowling attack. Fast bowler Haris Rauf returned excellent figures of 4/22, while there was wicket apiece for Shaheen Afridi, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Hafeez.

Brief scores: New Zealand: 134/8 in 20 overs (Daryl Mitchell 27, Devon Conway 27; Haris Rauf 4/22).

Pakistan: 135/5 in 18.4 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 33, Shoaib Malik 26 not out, Asif Ali 27 not out; Ish Sodhi 2/28).

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