Pakistan stumped again
The forlorn sight of Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed sitting on the pitch, doing the splits as he was comprehensively stumped, about summed it up.
Having given New Zealand a fright in the fifth ODI just three days earlier, Pakistan directed and co-starred in their own cricketing horror show at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium to be shot out for 105 in the first Twenty20 international.
New Zealand, without captain Kane Williamson who rested a minor side injury, overcame some early wobbles to reach their victory target with 25 balls to spare. Opener Colin Munro braved a painful hit to the wrist from an errant throw to be 49 not out off 43 balls, as the seven-wicket victory extended their winning streak to
13 completed matches.
That should reach 15 by Sunday night when Pakistan depart, now a distinct chance of matching the recently-departed West Indies and Bangladesh last summer in losing every international of their New Zealand tour. A high-flying England can’t arrive quickly enough for the marquee tour of the summer.
The change in format was meant to narrow the gap, with world No 1 New Zealand facing world No 2 Pakistan.
Instead the gulf grew wider, Pakistan’s top-order showing they were completely bereft against bounce after being softened up in the 5-0 ODI series whitewash.
Stand-in captain Tim Southee
(3-13) led the way as the Black Caps quicks continued the trend of seizing a stranglehold early and never letting go.
The drop-in pitch had a dark hue and proved tricky for both sets of batsmen, a worry with a T20 and ODI against England to follow. It was shades of last year’s South Africa ODI when everyone except the peerless AB de Villiers looked uncomfortable.
Early on it offered the pace and bounce New Zealand craved and Pakistan feared. It soon resembled a "last round" call in the nets as the batsmen in green swung and succumbed.
Southee got some early gifts from loose strokes from Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Nawaz, while Seth Rance (3-26) was the perfect foil as he swung the ball at
140kmh. Umar Amin got under a regulation Rance outswinger that bounced and Anaru Kitchen held a tricky skier, summing up the toporder’s woes.
Again the Black Caps were slick in the field, repeating their feat from the Basin Reserve of catching nine of the 10 wickets.
There was turn and bounce for Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi and it was soon a scarcely believable 38-6. Sarfraz got in a terrible tangle to Santner then next ball Shadab Khan was nicked off as gloveman Glenn Phillips juggled then held.
Star batsman Babar Azam topped his entire ODI series tally with 41 off 41 balls and Hasan Ali
(23 off 12) blew out Rance’s figures with successive sixes as Pakistan took it 19.4 overs before folding.
The holiday Monday crowd of
8688 fell a touch silent as New Zealand slumped to 8-2 thanks to leftarmer Rumman Raees. Martin Guptill mistimed a pull shot and Phillips chopped on as it looked a real struggle and 105 didn’t seem so bad.
Munro fought through and with Tom Bruce (26 off 22) added 49, before he opened the shoulders.
Spinner Mohammad Nawaz got slog swept into the stands and Rumman was sent flying over square leg as the world’s No 1 T20 international batsman lived up to his billing, and Ross Taylor added the polish with some late slog sweeps and a delightful cover drive.
Eden Park hosts Auckland’s first international of the summer on Thursday, a place Munro has excelled and Pakistan will need a miracle turnaround to stop the Black Caps chalking up win No 14.