Pakistan beat New Zealand by
7 wickets in the first T20 game yesterday in Dubai. After restricting the Kiwis
to a modest total, the hosts were clinical with the bat as they hunted down the
target in 19.1 overs to take a 1-0 lead. The second and last game will be
played later today on the same ground.
Sarfraz Ahmad, who has been
the best batsman for Pakistan in all formats in the recent times, was in top
form again as he scored 70 plus opening the batting to get his team to the win.
A few people remained awestruck by his improvisation especially with the six
that he hit off Matt Henry over square leg. Henry was clocking close to 90
miles an hour, but, that did not make Sarfraz hesitate in playing the sweep
shot. He went forward and easily lofted the ball as if he was playing against a
gentle medium pacer. The expression that was on Henry’s face after that shot
was played was worth seeing. He could not believe that he was treated that
rudely by the batsman.
This was not the first time
that Sarfraz swept a fast bowler for six. He had done that to James Faulkner,
the Australian fast bowler, in the 3-match ODI series a few weeks ago. The
Pakistani wicketkeeper has got great eyes and he is gutsy too. No matter
however good hand-eye coordination you have, playing such shots takes some
guts.
Pakistani bowling also
deserves some credit for this win against New Zealand. In the death, the
bowlers of the home team were superb, especially Irfan who was bowling the full
balls that were tailing in for the left handers and were curving away from the
right handers making the big hitting difficult.
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