T20 World Cup, PAK vs NZ as it happened: Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali power Pakistan to 5-wicket win
Highlights of the Super 12 Group 2 match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Sharjah.

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Asked to bat first, NZ finished with 134/8.
In reply, PAK finished with 135/5 (18.4).
2016 champions West Indies on the brink of elimination. 2009 champions Pakistan on the brink of qualifying for semifinals. Results, schedule and points tables for Super 12 stage
Some atmosphere in Sharjah. Good crowds make a broadcast richer. Well played again Pakistan. Very impressive, especially (not exclusively) in that bowling unit.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 26, 2021
Despite all the usual Pakistan caveats, you have to say they have one foot in the semi finals after beating the two other strongest sides in their group.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) October 26, 2021
#T20WorldCup
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 26, 2021
Safe to say Pakistan all but through to the semifinals. Will come down to which of India, New Zealand or Afghanistan manage four (or maybe three) wins among each other.
Pakistan win by 5 wickets
A fantastic, unbeaten partnership (48 off 23) between Shoaib Malik (26 off 20) and Asif Ali (27 off 12) gives Pakistan their second victory on the trot.
Asif Ali! 😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/jd4YxtfyVf
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 26, 2021
Delay in proceedings as the physio is out again to check on Asif.
PAK 126/5 after 18 overs: Four and six! Brilliant batting from Malik! He decides to go after Santner and gets the job done. The left-arm spinner finishes with figures of 1/33. Pakistan need 9 off 12.
PAK 111/5 after 17 overs: Back-to-back sixes! Asif Ali with two brutal strikes straight back. Tim Southee stuck with the slower ball and got punished. But he did well to bowl three dots after that to end the over. Asif gets struck on his helmet off the last ball and seems to be in discomfort. The physio is out.
PAK 98/5 after 16 overs: Malik finally goes on the offensive and finds the boundary. He moves on to 11 off 14. Sodhi finishes with figures of 2/28. Pakistan need 37 off 24.
Asif guides his first delivery for four. Pakistan need 44 off 30.
PAK 87/5 after 14.5 overs: OUT! Imad Wasim attempts a reverse sweep and is out LBW. Trent Boult gets the wicket. This has been a superb fightback with the ball by NZ. The new batter is Asif Ali.
100 wickets in Tests, ODIs & T20Is:
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) October 26, 2021
Lasith Malinga
Shakib Al Hasan
Tim Southee#PAKvNZ #T20WorldCup21
PAK 82/4 after 14 overs: Another good over for NZ, this time Sodhi gives away seven runs in his third over. Pakistan need 53 off 36.
PAK 75/4 after 13 overs: Jimmy Neesham concedes just five runs in his third over. Pakistan have Shoaib Malik and Imad Wasim at the crease and need 60 off 42.
Wow Rajasthan Royals spin bowling coach
— absy (@absycric) October 26, 2021
This is just unreal catch…Catches win matches.. could be the turning point of this game ? What say guys ? Interesting game #NZvsPAK @ICC @StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/L4VVHmmV5X
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 26, 2021
PAK 69/4 after 11.4 overs: OUT! Sodhi gets his second and it’s the big wicket of Rizwan. The right-hander was trapped in front and didn’t take the review. Imad Wasim is the new batter. Pakistan need 66 off 50.
Catch of the #T20WorldCup21 - Devon Conway take a bow.#NZVPAK
— Abhinav mukund (@mukundabhinav) October 26, 2021
Brilliant catch by Conway to dismiss Hafeez. Pakistan under even more pressure. This is fantastic fightback by NZ
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 26, 2021
That is an astonishing catch by Devon Conway!
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) October 26, 2021
🤯 You can't spell Conway without "NOWAY!"#T20WorldCup #NewZealand pic.twitter.com/39PoJ3iO0y
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 26, 2021
PAK 63/3 after 11 overs: OUT! Devon Conway with an absolutely sensational catch! He ran full tilt to his left from long-off and put in a full length dive to pull off the catch. Wow! Santner gets the wicket. Hafeez is on his way. Malik is the new batter. NZ believe!
PAK 58/2 after 10 overs: SIX! Hafeez gets off the mark in style, whacks his first delivery for six over long-off. Eleven runs come from Neesham’s second over. Pakistan need 77 off 60.
Pakistan's more conservative top order has plenty of benefits, but it can cause problems on pitches like this. They scored just 30 runs in the Powerplay, compared to NZ's 42 - on a surface which hasn't been easy to score on, that's significant. #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 26, 2021
PAK 47/2 after 9 overs: OUT! Brilliant review from NZ and Fakhar Zaman is on his way! Ish Sodhi gets the wicket after trapping the left-hander in front. Hafeez is the new batter.
PAK 45/1 after 8.3 overs: SIX! First maximum of the Pakistan innings and it comes from Zaman’s bat. Sodhi tossed it up and the left-hander got down on one knee and swept it out of the stadium.
PAK 39/1 after 8 overs: Neesham joins the attack and concedes just two runs and a leg-bye in his first over. Zaman is batting on 4 off 12 and struggling for timing. Pakistan need 96 off 72.
Tim Southee is the 3rd man and 8th cricketer overall to take 100 T20 international wickets. First from New Zealand. #T20WorldCup
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 26, 2021
Fakhar Zaman strikes at 153 against SLA in T20 cricket, averaging 30. His battle with Mitchell Santner here will be crucial in Pakistan managing the middle overs, and NZ juggling their usage. #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 26, 2021
PAK 36/1 after 7 overs: Santner joins the attack and drifts down leg, Rizwan plays a fine sweep and picks up four. Zaman is taking his time to settle in. Meanwhile, Guptill has gone off the field due to an injury.
Tim Southee becomes the third bowler to take 100-plus wickets in T20Is after Shakib Al Hasan and Lasith Malinga.#NZvsPAK #T20WorldCup2021
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) October 26, 2021
Pakistan have lost a wicket. I repeat, Pakistan have lost a wicket.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) October 26, 2021
PAK 28/1 after 5.1 overs: OUT! Tim Southee gets his 100th wicket in T20Is and it’s the big one of Babar Azam. The Pakistan skipper tried to pull it away but got clean bowled. Fakhar Zaman is the new batter.
PAK 28/0 after 5 overs: Shot! Boult pitches it slightly wide and Rizwan guides it past backward point for four. Pakistan need 107 off 90.
PAK 22/0 after 4 overs: Eight off the Southee over. Rizwan playing his trademark shots but he still hasn’t found his rhythm.
PAK 14/0 after 3 overs: Boult into the attack. A four off the first ball for Rizwan but precious little after that.
So... can New Zealand avoid 10-wicket defeat? 😅#T20WorldCup
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 26, 2021
PAK 9/0 after 2 overs: Brilliant over by Southee. Just two runs off it.
PAK 7/0 after 1 over: Babar got the chase off to a fine start with a lovely four. Just went up and over... into the gap. Important for NZ to get a few early wickets. They started off with Santner.
New Zealand resticted to 134/8 by Pakistan.
— Zenia D'cunha (@ZENIADCUNHA) October 26, 2021
Mother: India made more than that and they won by 10 wickets no?
You like this New Zealand team no?
I feel like I'm being trolled 😅
Pakistan’s bowling has been exceptional
— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) October 26, 2021
Only seven times has a T20 World Cup seen a score of 134 (or less) been defended successfully. #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 26, 2021
Excellent bowling effort by Pak, Rauf in particular with his searing pace and control. NZ promised more than 134 after a reasonable start. This modest score will be very, very difficult to defend
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 26, 2021
Matthew Hayden "Young Haris Rauf is an exciting prospect - just cut him lose with some great pace! That's the strength of Pakistan cricket in the field" #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) October 26, 2021
NZ finish with 134/8
Haris Rauf ends the innings with his fourth wicket as Mitch Santner gets clean bowled. He returns with superb figures of 4/22. Pakistan will be confident of chasing down this total.
Shaheen Shah afridi's bowling is very similar to what Mitchell Starc bowled in the 2015 world cup.
— DK (@DineshKarthik) October 26, 2021
Bowls full and sharp at the start, gets wickets and bowls gun Yorkers at the death.
ABSOLUTELY LETHAL #CricketTwitter#worldT20
NZ 125/7 after 19 overs: OUT! Shaheen ends his spell with a wicket. Seifert (8 off 8) attempts a slog but edges it to point. Pakistan’s pacers are doing a mighty impressive job at the death.
Haris Rauf 🔥🔥🔥#WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/Db7ArJT2V1
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 26, 2021
It's amazing what CONFIDENCE can do in sport #NZvsPAK #CricketTwitter #worldT20
— DK (@DineshKarthik) October 26, 2021
If anything, NZ are worse off at this stage than India was the other night.
— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) October 26, 2021
Against that, even without Lockie they fielded a better bowling lineup than India did.
NZ 116/6 after 17.3 overs: OUT! Rauf has two wickets in one over! This time Phillips (13 off 15) finds the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Pakistan are pumped! The new batter is Santner.
NZ 116/5 after 17.1 overs: OUT! Conway (27 off 24) tries to go big but gets caught in the deep. Rauf bags his second wicket. The NZ innings simply hasn’t got any momentum. Tim Seifert is the new batter.
NZ 116/4 after 17 overs: Shaheen returns to the attack and Pakistan finally leak a boundary. NZ hadn’t hit a boundary in the last 23 deliveries but Phillips finally thumps one down the ground for four.
Pakistan's bowlers are excellent at giving their batsmen just the kind of target they are most comfortable chasing. A 140-150 chase suits their style perfectly
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 26, 2021
NZ 100/4 after 15 overs: Haris Rauf returns to the attack and concedes just five singles in his second over. NZ need to up the ante, massive five overs coming up for them.
Kane Williamson averages 41 this year in T20 cricket, striking at 119. Among the batsmen to face at least 400 deliveries, that ranks 11/65 for average, and 57/65 for strike rate. #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 26, 2021
NZ 90/4 after 13.1 overs: OUT! Oh dear, Kane Williamson (25 off 26) gets run-out just as NZ were starting to make a move. He tried to scramble back into the crease but Hasan Ali quickly got the direct hit in his follow through. Glenn Phillips is the new batter.
NZ 90/3 after 13 overs: Oh dear, Asif Ali with a misfield at deep backward square and Conway gets four. That should have been a simple stop. Conway then makes it a hat-trick of fours as Shadab ends an expensive over. New Zealand are making a move!
Energy in the field from Pakistan is rubbing of on their bowling since the power play ! Very good this from Pakistan. They are looking like the best side in the #ICCT20WorldCup2021 but still a looong way to go ! Really enjoy watching Williamson bat in all formats !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) October 26, 2021
NZ 75/3 after 12 overs: Williamson reviews successfully! He attempted a reverse sweep but didn’t connect and the umpire raised his finger. But DRS showed there was a big inside edge. The NZ skipper follows that up with a pull for four and a one-handed drive over long-on for six. Expensive over from Hafeez.
Neesham Post Powerplay in T20s this year
— Srinivas Vijaykumar (@srini_vk) October 26, 2021
v Leg-Spin - SR 178, Avg - 91
v Off-Spin - SR 100, Avg - 14
NZ promoting Neesham up the order to take on Shadab, but smart move from Pakistan to bring on Hafeez to counter Neesham's negative matchup. #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ
NZ 63/3 after 11 overs: Another good over from Shadab. Pakistan’s spinners are putting in the choke and New Zealand are struggling to find answers. The Black Caps have Williamson and Conway at the crease now.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 26, 2021
Gambit with Neesham has bombed. Pak swiftly taking control of the match. NZ need a substantial partnership now and for Williamson to try and bat through
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 26, 2021
NZ 56/3 after 9.1 overs: OUT! The move to promote Neesham (1 off 2) doesn’t work as the left-hander hits it straight to deep mid-wicket. Hafeez strikes with his first ball!
NZ 54/2 after 8.2 overs: SIX & OUT! Daryl Mitchell finds the fielder at long-on and departs for 27 off 20. Imad Wasim gets the wicket. Jimmy Neesham is the new batter.
NZ 48/1 after 8 overs: Leg spinner Shadab Khan comes on to bowl and starts his spell nicely, just three runs come from his first over. Mitchell is batting on 21 off 18, Williamson is on 8 off 11.
NZ 45/1 after 7 overs: Imad returns to the attack and bowls a good over, just three singles from it. The left-arm spinner has figures of 0/16 from three overs.
Guptill’s wicket brings Pak level with NZ in Powerplay. Not too many runs have been conceded, and a major batsman dismissed
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 26, 2021
NZ 42/1 after 6 overs: Williamson gets going with a clip to the fine-leg fence for four. The Kiwi skipper will be keen to start the tournament with a solid performance.
#NewZealand have very rarely made it through a Powerplay unscathed in the last few years. In their last 32 T20Is, they've only twice not lost a wicket in the first six overs. #T20WorldCup #PAKvWI
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 26, 2021
As I said Pakistans fielding is a barometer whether they’re switched on - it’s poor so far ! To clarify re if Pak win today they’re through to semis (they will win 2/3 or all 3 of remaining games). That’s y they will go through. But if they lose, the group is wide open ! Rauf ✅
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) October 26, 2021
NZ 36/1 after 5.2 overs: OUT! Haris Rauf joins the attack and provides Pakistan the breakthrough. Guptill (17 off 20) gets an inside edge and is clean bowled. Williamson is the new batter.
0 - Pakistan's first over maiden against New Zealand was the 3rd occasion of this happening in #T20WorldCup21 (Oman v Papua New Guinea & Netherlands v Ireland); and the first time Pakistan have managed it in a men's T20I since April 2018 (v WI). Perfect.#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/tcDILk0Q8r
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) October 26, 2021
NZ 36/0 after 5 overs: SIX! Stunning shot from Mitchell! Hasan Ali joins the attack and the right-hander welcomes him with a maximum over long-on. He stood tall and played a gorgeous on-the-rise drive with a straight bat. Guptill then plays a cracking square-cut over point to pick up another boundary.
NZ 21/0 after 4 overs: Imad’s second over ends just like the first one did – a short ball cut away for four by Guptill. NZ have done well to not lose a wicket so far.
NZ 15/0 after 3 overs: Rare loose delivery from Shaheen and Mitchell doesn’t miss out. It was short and wide and the right-hander slapped it through cover and mid-off for four.
Shaheen Shah Afridi's first over against India averaged 0.97 degrees of swing, and 0.96 degrees of seam. Today, Shaheen found 1.8 degrees of swing, but just 0.4 degrees of seam. #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 26, 2021
NZ 7/0 after 2 overs: Four! Imad bowls five tight deliveries before dropping the last one short, Guptill pounces on it and cuts it through the ring for four.
6 - @TheRealPCB duo @HarisRauf14 (6) and @iShaheenAfridi (5) have taken more wickets from yorkers and full tosses in men’s T20Is in 2021 than any other player from a Test-playing nation; in fact, no other player has taken more than three wickets via that length. Noxious. #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/nsDaEnVwiL
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) October 26, 2021
NZ 0/0 after 1 over: Another terrific start from Shaheen, he swings the ball both ways to Guptill and begins his spell with a maiden. Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim to bowl the second over.
Daryl Mitchell has played 14 T20 innings for New Zealand - this is the first time he's opened the batting. #T20WorldCup #PAKvNZ
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 26, 2021
7.30 pm: Strap in folks, it’s Shaheen Afridi time! NZ have Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell at the crease. Here we go!
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 26, 2021
Big match coming up next, #Pak v #NZ. Babar & Co were in dazzling form v India. Kiwis were struggling in the warm up games. But Wiliamson has excellent players under him for white ball cricket. Remember 2019 ODI World Cup? Could be a crackling contest. Who’s your pick?
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 26, 2021
Playing XIs:
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Tim Seifert (w), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (w), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi.
Toss:
Babar Azam has won the toss and Pakistan will bowl first.
Update on Lockie Ferguson: An MRI scan of right calf has revealed a grade two tear which would require three to four weeks recovery. Adam Milne will replace him in the Black Caps squad.
Warm-up ahead of the #PAKvNZ clash 🇵🇰#WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/3zNrz4Ou9q
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 26, 2021
6.56 pm: Bad news for New Zealand – fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the tournament due to a calf tear.
Head to Head: Pakistan 14 - 10 New Zealand
6.50 pm: Hello and welcome to live coverage of the T20 World Cup Super 12 Group 2 match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Sharjah.