Babar Azam stars in Pakistan chase against New Zealand

Pakistan has started their campaign in the tri-series on a strong note after their home series defeat to England as they have now won two back-to-back matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand, respectively, in the ongoing T20I tri-series in Christchurch.
 
New Zealand were restricted to just 147/8 in the first innings after a brilliant bowling performance by Pakistan. While chasing, Babar Azam looked solid and scored an effortless, unbeaten 79 off 53 balls, along with good support by all-rounder Shadab Khan for his quick 34 off 22 balls, which helped Pakistan clinch a six-wicket win with 10 balls to spare. 
 
Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler for Pakistan with his 3/28. After a superb bowling performance by Pakistan to restrict the hosts to 147/8, Pakistan lost their in-form opener Mohammed Rizwan early for just 4 off 12 balls. Just three balls later, Shan Masood was dismissed and caught behind for a duck by Blair Tickner, bowling around the wicket.
 
Pakistan then played a masterstroke by sending all-rounder Shadab Khan to bat at No.4 and, together with Babar, they added a vital 61-run partnership. Shadab was dismissed after scoring a quickfire 34 off 22 with two fours and two sixes, but Babar continued to build his innings and take the game deep.
 
Babar scored his 28th T20I fifty in the 84th inning, tying Kohli for the most in the same number of innings. This was also Babar’s 12th fifty while chasing, which is now the joint-third highest by a batter in the T20I format along with Indian captain Rohit Sharma. 
 
Out of Babar’s 12 fifties, while chasing, 11 have come in a winning cause, which is now a joint-second highest along with Australia’s David Warner. Only Virat Kohli, with 15 fifties, stands on top.
 
Pakistan reached New Zealand’s target of 148 with Babar remaining unbeaten on his 79 off 53 balls, along with Haider Ali, who scored a six and a four off his two balls to remain unbeaten on 10 off 2 balls as Pakistan won the match by six wickets with 10 balls to spare.
 
Shadab Khan’s quickfire knock at No.4 in Pakistan’s six-wicket win against New Zealand has given Babar Azam plenty of options in the middle order, and the captain indicated that he has a plan for him in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
 
“Definitely, we have a plan to send Shadab up to charge the bowlers, to utilize his skills,” said Babar Azam, as Pakistan chased the total in 18.2 overs for the loss of four wickets.
 
It was the first time Shadab had batted at No. 4 in a T20I and the 24-year-old smashed two fours and two sixes in a crucial 61-run partnership with Babar to give his side some hope in the middle order for the T20 World Cup.
 
“Me and Shadab decided that I was going all the way and he would take the chances,” said Babar. “When we settled down and assessed the wicket, I decided I was going to play to the end and managed to do that,” Babar added.
 
Shadab’s promotion up the order could prove out to be a good decision for Pakistan going into the T20 World Cup. With his positive intent, the right-hander, who has played with Islamabad United in the PSL, has proved he can thrive in the crucial middle-order position.
 
Babar Azam was awarded Player of the Match for his unbeaten 79 off 53 balls. 
 
Pakistan have two more matches to go in the Tri-series where Shadab, if promoted up the order, can show his skills during games against New Zealand in Christchurch on October 11 and Bangladesh on October 13.
 
Pakistan won by six wickets over New Zealand 146/8 (Devon Conway 36, Mark Chapman; Haris Rauf 3/28, Mohammad Wasim Jr 2/20) at 149/4 (Babar Azam 79*, Shadab Khan 34; Blair Tickner 2/42, Trent Boult 1/22).