New Zealand fought hard to beat Pakistan by 17 runs in the second Twenty20 international in Dubai to level the two-match series at 1-1 on Friday.
Set a challenging 145-run target, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals with opener Ahmed Shehzad (33) and captain Shahid Afridi (28) the only ones who stayed long enough to raise any hopes of a win.
New Zealand fast bowlers Jimmy Neesham and and Kyle Mills finished with 3-25 and 3-26 respectively.
Photo: AFP
Left-arm spinner Anton Devcich (2-16) rattled Pakistan by dismissing Sarfraz Ahmed (1) in the first over.
Pakistan also lost Mohammad Hafeez (9) and Haris Sohail (3) and were struggling at 24-3 before Shehzad added 40 for the fourth wicket with Saad Nasim (19). Afridi hit two towering sixes off spinner Daniel Vettori, but was caught behind off Neesham with 24 needed in the last two overs.
Mills wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Umar Gul (0) and Sohail Tanvir (11) to give his team victory.
“We had a review of our performance of the first match and that paid off,” New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said. “We put up a good show and it’s nice to level the series.”
New Zealand were given a sound start of 49 for the first wicket by Williamson (32) and Devcich (21), but Hafeez (1-20) and Afridi (2-33) applied the brakes with three quick wickets.
Williamson hit three fours and a six in his 31-ball knock.
It was left to Luke Ronchi (31) and Tom Latham (26) to lift the innings in the final overs during their 38-run fifth-wicket stand.
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