Kiwis win second T20 to level series 1-1 against Pak

New Zealand battled hard to win the second Twenty20 international in Dubai by 17 runs against Pakistan to level the two-match series 1-1 on Friday.

The tourists set a challenging 145-run target for Pakistan, who hosted the series in the neutral United Arab Emirates venue. Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals with opener Ahmed Shehzad, who got out for his individual 33, and captain Shahid Afridi, who hit 28 runs, the only ones who stayed long enough to raise any hopes of a win.

Pakistan won the first match, also played in Dubai, by seven wickets on Thursday, but this time their chase was chaotic as New Zealand bowled with precision and fast bowlers Jimmy Neesham finished with figures of 3-25 and Kyle Mills took match figures of 3-26, Sport24 reported.

Left-arm spinner Anton Devcich, who delivered match figures of 2-16, rattled Pakistan by dismissing Sarfraz Ahmed, who had made 76 not out in the first match, in the very first over for just one.

Pakistan also lost Mohammad Hafeez for nine and Haris Sohail for three and were struggling at 24-3 before Shehzad added 40 for the fourth wicket with Saad Nasim who made 19.

Afridi hit two towering sixes off spinner Daniel Vettori but was caught behind off Neesham with 24 needed in the last two overs. Mills wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Umar Gul for a duck and Sohail Tanvir, who scored 11, to give his team victory.

New Zealand were given a sound start of 49 for the first wicket by skipper Kane Williamson (32) and Devcich (21) but Hafeez, who delivered match figures of 1-20, and Afridi, who delivered match figures of 2-33, applied the brakes with three quick wickets.

Williamson hit three boundaries and a six in his 31-ball knock. It was left to Luke Ronchi (31) and Tom Latham (26) to lift the innings in the final overs during their 38-run fifth wicket stand.

Paceman Gul, playing his first match since April due to knee problems, finished with 2-24 in his four overs. Besides Gul, Shehzad also returned to the team, with Awaiz Zia and Mohammad Irfan dropping out.

The two teams now play a five-match ODI series, the first of which would be played in Dubai on Monday, the report added.