PAK vs NZ 2nd T20I: The hosts just outclassed the visitors in the first T20I of the Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2024. The home side is 1-up with the first match done and four left. An average batting and below-par bowling performance ended Pakistan in the losing corner. Pakistan and New Zealand are going to clash on 14 January at Hamilton in the second T20I, and here are the 2 changes Pakistan might make for the PAK vs NZ 2nd T20I.
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In the first T20I, Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss in his first official outing as the permanent T20I skipper. He opted to bowl and did what he is known for, first-over Wicket! His next over became his most expensive over in the T20I where he conceded 24 runs. Williamson and Mitchell partied together for an 80-run partnership in the next 6 overs.
Small but important cameos from down the order helped New Zealand reach the record total of 226 runs. None of the Pakistani bowlers were below 8 runs per over and Aamer Jamal was the most expensive concerning 55 runs in 4 overs with a zero in the wicket column. Skipper Shaheen Shah also went for 11.50 runs per over whereas Abbas and Haris were the cheapest bowlers bowling at 8.50 runs per over.
When it came to chase, what a wonderful batsman Saim Ayub is! He truly took New Zealand bowlers by storm in the first couple of overs where he scored 27 runs off just 8 balls but an unfortunate runout got him off the field. Babar Azam was too good to return to the shortest format of the sport as he smashed 57 off just 35 balls.
Interestingly Fakhar Zaman was handed the middle order duties and he was not up to the mark as he was asked. Aamer Jamal showed good signs in the batting as he remained not out with 14 runs in 7 balls next to his name. But wickets kept falling from one side and Pakistan lost the game by as many as 46 runs.
Pakistan got a good start but lost the match in the middle where to middle order left the momentum provided by Babar and Fakhar. So, down below are the 2 changes Pakistan might make for the PAK vs NZ 2nd T20I:
PAK vs NZ 2nd T20I: 2 Changes Pakistan might make
Mohammad Nawaz IN for Usama Mir?
Usama Mir was never looked in control in the first T20I in his four overs. He conceded runs with close to 13 runs-an-over which shows that New Zealand batters were finding him easy. Nawaz comes with his experience and quality left arm off-break. He could also help with the bat down the order and overall he could be a handy pick for the 2nd T20I.
Fakhar to come earlier?
Over the past few years, Rizwan and Babar were opening the batting for Pakistan in the T20I format, but a slow strike rate was their main criticism that allowed the new Pakistani skipper to shuffle the top order. Fakhar Zaman is a batter who has done some majestic work when he opens the innings and Rizwan is the one who can bat at number 4 with ease.
Fakhar’s failure in the first T20I can make PCB think tank to reshuffle the top order as Zaman is a promising opener and he could produce some significant impact with Saim Ayub at the top.
PAK vs NZ 2nd T20I: Probable XIs
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi (c), Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears
Visit the ICC Official Website for more details
