Pakistan overcame their one-day international series loss and maintained their world champion status in Twenty20 cricket with a convincing 49-run win over New Zealand at Dubai Stadium on Thursday.
Opener Imran Nazir lifted Pakistan to a competitive 161-8 on a pitch of variable bounce before the bowlers unleashed a tight line and length to dismiss New Zealand for 112 in 18.3 overs.
The victory was Pakistan’s 20th in 26 Twenty20 internationals and their third in as many matches against the injury-ravaged Black Caps.
Brendon McCullum, leading the side in the absence of the injured Daniel Vettori, raised hopes by smashing 17 off the first over bowled by Mohammad Aamir.
But Aamir came back strongly by claiming McCullum (19) in his second and Ross Taylor (five) in his third to quash any hopes of an upset. Aamir finished with 2-21.
Abdul Razzaq (2-9) then dismissed Scot Styris (four) and Neil Broom (14) before spinners Shahid Afridi (2-21) and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (2-18) wrapped up New Zealand’s innings.
The second match was to be played in Dubai yesterday. Pakistan lost the preceding three-match one-day series 2-1.
Afridi said the win was a much-needed boost for Pakistan.
“We had to win this match after our one-day loss,” Afridi said. “After getting 161 I thought that with our varied attack, we’d successfully defend the total.”
■SRI LANKA V INDIA
AFP, MUMBAI
Sri Lanka’s practice match against the Indian board president’s XI was called off yesterday without a ball being bowled on all three days.
Wet ground conditions prevented any play on the final day after the first two days were washed out by unseasonal rains caused by a depression off India’s west coast.
It was Sri Lanka’s lone warm-up match ahead of the first Test, which starts on Monday. Kumar Sangakkara’s men are to play three Tests, two Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals over their seven-week tour.
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