Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI Highlights: Babar Azam's 79 In Vain As Pakistan Lose

Right then, that is it from this game and after the first two games of the series, it is level at 1-1 and no one knows which of these two teams will come out on top. The fascinating series decider will be played on Friday, the 13th of January in Karachi itself. The game will begin at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT) but you can join us early for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!

The New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson says that you never really know what to do after winning the toss, but keeping in mind the previous game and the fact they played Ish Sodhi made him choose to bat first. Adds that the partnership with Devon Conway still did not make 300 realistic. Mentions that there were a few good knocks in the end which took them to a decent score. Tells that they knew it was going to be a tough chase, but the two pacers set the tone for them and the spinners backed them up well. Ends by saying that it is nice to play the decider in this three-match series.

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan says that they didn't start well with the ball but came back well and feels that they didn't play the spinners well. He then applauds the Kiwi spinners for making good use of the conditions. Adds that they wanted to take the game to the 40th over and take risks after that but they lost a lot of wickets and that couldn't happen. Mentions that Agha Salman did well to provide a bit of impetus but they just couldn't get the big shots in. Reckons that in the last game, the ball was coming on nicely but in this game, the ball was turning sharply. Says that in Karachi, the pitch generally gets better but it didn't happen here so they will have to assess the conditions in the final game

Devon Conway (101 off 92 balls) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant ton. Conway says that they were targeting a score of around 300. Adds that they lost an early wicket, but he and Kane Williamson steadied the ship. Credits the skipper to take the pressure off him and says that when you play spin you have to be proactive. Tells that the Pakistani spinners were asking tough questions, but luckily they were able to get through that phase and he is happy with the win.

The Presentation ceremony...

Mitchell Santner is down for a quick chat. Santner says that they were tighter with their line and lengths and it was a good feeling to take a couple of wickets. Adds that they were looking to score near 280, but they lost a lot of wickets and credits Mohammad Nawaz for the way he bowled. Says that overall they were happy with the total on the board. Mentions that they needed wickets early and were able to break the stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam and says that they got the grip of the game after that.

Earlier in the game, Kane Williamson opted to bat first even after losing the first game while setting a target but in the end, he read the conditions perfectly and it all worked out for New Zealand. Batting first, Kiwis lost Finn Allen early but then the skipper and Devon Conway put on a mammoth stand of 181 runs with the latter going on to make a brilliant century. Both of them fell and the Kiwis lost their way in the middle but Mitchell Santner's cameo made sure that they got over the 250-run mark. As for Pakistan, Naseem Shah continued with his consistency and after being put under pressure, Mohammad Nawaz brought the home side back into the game with a four-fer. Coming to the chase, it was not an easy one as the ball was gripping and the Pakistani batters lost the battle against the versatile bowling line up of New Zealand.

Pakistan will be disappointed with that batting effort as the score on the board wasn't a huge one to chase down. However, much of the blame will go to the openers, Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman for throwing their wicket away early on. The ever-dependent pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan did manage to do the repair work but Rizwan fell and the middle order was exposed. Babar was forced to hold down one end and only Agha Salman was the other batter who contributed a bit. The Pakistani batters were picked off one by one and a couple of run-outs didn't help them either. Babar did get to a sedate 50 but got out towards the end while looking to up the ante. The hosts will now look to bounce back in the series decider.

New Zealand had a bit of momentum coming into the chase thanks to a late flourish from Mitchell Santner and they made full use of the momentum as Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson got an early wicket each to put them on top of proceedings. Their spinners then came in and bowled really well but failed to get a wicket for a few overs but once Santner got rid of Mohammad Rizwan, the floodgates opened. They kept on picking wickets at regular intervals and made brilliant use of the turning conditions. Every one of the six bowlers used picked up a wicket with Ish Sodhi and Tim Southee finishing with two each. In the end, their bowlers were all over the opposition and it was an easy victory for the touring side.

A clinical performance in the field from New Zealand and they have thumped Pakistan to level the series! The visitors were right on the money from start to finish in the end and will be delighted with this victory.

OUT! TAKEN! Ish Sodhi gets the last wicket! That is it for Pakistan then. Ish Sodhi flights this up, on off, Haris Rauf skips down the track and goes for the slog, but fails to get any timing, and hits it from the bottom part of the bat. As a result it goes high in the air towards long off where Michael Bracewell settles under it to take a comfortable catch. Pakistan have been bowled out for 182! NEW ZEALAND WIN BY 79 RUNS AND LEVEL THE SERIES!

Here comes the wrong 'un, turning in from around off. Rauf blocks it out.

Tossed up around off, Haris Rauf leans forward and blocks it out.

Haris Rauf is the last man in for Pakistan.

OUT! STUMPED! A magical piece of work from Tom Latham behind the stumps and Ish Sodhi gets the big fish. This is tossed up full and outside off by Sodhi. Babr attempts the reverse sweep but misses and stumbles a bit. Latham waits and just when the back leg is raised an inch off the ground, he dislodges the bails. Latham seemed confident and the third umpire after checking from a few angles confirms the same. A fighting knock from Babar but New Zealand are one wicket away from the win now.

Is that out? The umpire sends it upstairs for a stumping appeal. UltraEdge shows no bat involved. The side-on angle and stump camera shows that it is touch and go as the foot is in the air for a moment when the bails were taken off. However it is a close call. The third umpire takes a brave decision and gives it 'OUT'.

Good fielding in the deep from Devon Conway. This is floated up full and outside off, Babar Azam drives it square of the wicket and towards deep cover-point. Conway from sweeper cover sprints to his left and slides in to make the stop. They get two.

SIX! All the way! This is short and wide, sits up nicely for the batter. Babar Azam stands tall and hits it flat and hard over the cover region and clears the fence for a maximum.

This is drifted onto the leg stump, Naseem Shah just blocks it out.

Beaten all ends up! This is tossed up full and outside off, Naseem Shah throws the kitchen sink at it but the ball turns away and goes well past the outside edge.