WELLINGTON: Pakistan’s win against New Zealand in the first T20 in Auckland must seem like a distant memory after the tourists were comprehensively beaten by the Kiwis yet again.
Pakistan won the first game of the three-match series by 16 runs before New Zealand stormed the second by 10 wickets – with a world record 171 partnership between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson. The hosts maintained that form to win equally emphatically in the 3rd T20.
Corey Anderson produced an outstanding allround performance with an unbeaten 82 to lead New Zealand to 196-5 as it batted first and took 2-17 as New Zealand dismissed Pakistan for 101 in 16.1 overs.
Pakistan’s hopes of saving the match and series quickly dissolved when it was reduced to 15-3 by the third over and captain Shahid Afridi said there were serious concerns for the team before the World T20 in March.
“I think with five or six batsmen back in the dressing room in the first six overs, what are you expecting?” Afridi said after the match.
“Before the World T20 there are a lot of things we need to see and we will see what decisions have to be made now.
“We have some time but I think if we keep making these mistakes we’ll come nowhere.”
Pakistan’s T20 form dipped has drastically in the last few months. First they were swept aside by England 3-0 late last year and now a complete annihilation at the hands of New Zealand has left them on the ropes.
They are grouped with India, Australia, New Zealand and a qualifier in the World T20 and on current form it appears a tough ask for Afridi’s side.
Before the start of the New Zealand series, the 35-year-old captain zeroed in on the mistakes that Pakistan made in the England series and termed them “school boy errors”.
But Friday’s loss to New Zealand was a picture of complete helplessness for Pakistan. – Agenices
