Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I Highlights: Babar Azam Stars As Pakistan Beat New Zealand By 38 Runs, Take 2-0 Lead

Right then, that is all we have from yet another one-sided affair. Pakistan have bulldozed their way to a 2-0 lead in this five-match series while New Zealand are looking for their first win on this tour. The third match will be played on Monday 17th of April at this very venue and the game will start at 9.30 pm IST (5 pm GMT) but you can join us for the build-up well in advance. Until then, goodbye and cheers!

Tom Latham the skipper of New Zealand says the team has been there and there about but they lost their way today around the 14th over. Adds that the credit must be given to Babar Azam for his brilliant inning as he was amazing. He adds that upfront the bowlers were near to perfect but we gave away a bit too many in the last four overs but says that this will be a learning curve for his team with which they will improve for sure. Claims that when the team is chasing a score over 190, partnerships become even more important and the lack of significant partnerships ended up costing them the game. He ends by saying that the team is not far behind from victory as they have lost the games with fine margins in crucial moments and they will come back stronger.

Babar Azam the captain of Pakistan is also the Player of the Match for his remarkable century. He says that he is really happy to perform and end up on the winning side today. He adds that he along with Mohammad Rizwan, got a good opening stand and later with Iftikhar Ahmed they did well to close the innings.  Adds that he is trying to play throughout the innings and looked to accelerate towards the end. Mentions that the most important thing was building up partnerships as back-to-back wickets never help any team. On his bowling outfit, he says that the bowlers are bowling beautifully and as a result, the team is doing amazing in the games that they are playing.

Time for the presentations...

Pakistan will be proud of their effort as they backed a good batting performance with some high-quality bowling. Haris Rauf was once again at his lethal best as he picked up 4 wickets in his four-over spell and conceded just 27 runs. Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, and Zaman Khan chipped in with a wicket each as they comfortably defended a massive target set by their batters. It was the skipper Babar Azam who set the tone for this game with a century in the first inning and was supported by Mohammad Rizwan who got to his half-century. They will be slightly worried about the mini-collapse in the middle overs but will be generally happy with the win.

New Zealand started the run chase tentatively with both the openers getting off to decent starts but could not convert it as they were dismissed in the quest to accelerate. Will Young struggled out in the middle and was dismissed on a low score but Mark Chapman continued his good form. Once again, he lacked partners at the other end as Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, and Rachin Ravindra all departed cheaply. Mark Chapman stayed unbeaten on 65 of just 40 deliveries but his efforts were in vain. The worry for them will be that even with the ball, Matt Henry is the only one who looks dangerous and will need to pick up their overall effort.

Pakistan have registered yet another comprehensive win and have taken a 2-0 lead in the series. They have shown their superiority over their opponents once again as they have dominated in all aspects of the game and have won by a huge margin of 38 runs. They are just one game away from sealing the series while New Zealand have loads of work to do if they are to want to avoid a demolition job on this tour.

SIX! Mark Chapman finishes the game with a maximum in a losing cause. Short and wide outside off, Mark Chapman opens up the face of his bat and lofts one over the backward point fielder for a maximum.

Fuller one around middle, Henry Shipley drills this to long on for a single.

Henry Shipley walks out to the middle.

OUT! TIMBER! Zaman Khan gets a wicket as well in his kitty and Cole McConchie has to depart! This is bowled with pace off, a dipping full toss bang on middle, Cole McConchie clears his front foot and looks to go big but gets beaten. The ball goes on to shatter the stumps as he takes the long walk back to the shed. New Zealand are seven wickets down and staring a massive defeat.

Short-pitched delivery following the batter to his leg, Cole McConchie looks to slice this to third man but misses out.

Full and wide outside off, Mark Chapman pushes this to long off and takes a single.

Full and wide of off, Mark Chapman looks to play the ramp shot but misses out.

Fuller one on pads, Cole McConchie flicks this towards deep mid-wicket and takes a couple.

On a length around the pads, Mark Chapman dabs this near the wickets and takes a single.

Fuller one outside off, Cole McConchie lofts this towards sweeper cover for a single.

Back of a length over the off-stump line, Cole McConchie looks to play the ramp stroke but misses out.

Full and straight in the line of stumps, Cole McConchie defends this out.

Fuller one on off, Mark Chapman punches this over the bowler for a single towards long off.