New Zealand levels the series against Pakistan with record partnership

Two in-form batsmen of New Zealand Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill established a skillful show of composure and timing to overcome Pakistan’s 168 for 7 within eighteen overs in Hamilton. They made a record highest ever opening stand of 171 for T20Is. The 10 wicket victory leveled the series in a resounding way. Guptill was not out with 87 and Williamson left the field with a personal best of 72. Williamson started the aggression, darting about his crease to exploit the wayward bowling from Pakistan. He cracked Mohammad Amir for four through the leg side in the second over then slapped three fours off Imad Wasim through point soon after.

Williamson maintained New Zealand’s run rate at 10 an over within the power play and it did not fall far below that after that. Guptill was silent at the pitch, smashing a six off Umar Gul in the first over, before taking charge down the middle overs. He cracked successive fours off Amir in the 13 th over and consecutive sixes off Shahid Afridi in the 15 th. His 58-ball innings comprised four sixes and nine fours. Williamson hit 11 fours.Pakistan had shaky start losing early wickets but Shoaib Malik’s calculated 39 and Umar Akmal’s forceful 56 not out from 27 balls brought Pakistan back in the match.

 

Pakistan bowling had been below par. Amir proved to be more costly giving 34 from his three overs but no one in Pakistan attack was economical where Wahab Riaz gave 10 an over and Imad Wasim 8. Mitchell McClenaghan bowled at tight lines, mixing up his pace and lengths largely on off stump. His first three overs conceded only eight runs but Akmal’s late charge lightened somewhat those figures during which he hit two fours and a six in three balls. Earlier Pakistan was 34 for 2 after 6.1 overs before Malik joined to boost the innings, scoring singles to third man, then a number of fours to that short boundary. His 63-run partnership for fourth wicket with Umar Akmal was the most significant of the innings.