Captain Babar Azam scored an unbeaten century as Pakistan registered a comfortable 38-run win against New Zealand in the second T20 International cricket match. After winning the toss for the second time in two days, Babar scored an unbeaten 101 off 58 balls to post a score of 192 for four.
The New Zealand team, which came without eight key players playing in the Indian Premier League and injured Kane Williamson on Pakistan tour, could manage only 154 runs for seven wickets in front of the stormy bowling of Haris Rauf (4 wickets for 27 runs). With this win, Pakistan has taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Babar got Pakistan off to a brisk start, adding 99 off 64 balls for the first wicket with Mohammad Rizwan (50 off 34 balls). Fast bowler Matt Henry (2/29) broke the partnership by dismissing Rizwan.
Henry also sent Fakhar Zaman to the pavilion on the next ball. Left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra then had Sam Ayub caught by James Neesham to reduce Pakistan’s score to 102 for three. Babar completed his half-century in 36 balls but batting furiously in the last three overs, completed the century in the next 22 balls. Babar hit 11 fours and three sixes in his innings and became the first captain to score three T20 International centuries.
Babar completed the century in the last over with a six and two fours in four balls of Neesham. In response, the New Zealand team was never in a position to achieve the target. The team lost wickets at regular intervals and Mark Chapman top-scored with 65 not out. Apart from Chapman, Chad Bowes (26) was the only New Zealander to cross the 20-run mark.
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