Cricket

“Not The Right Time To…”: Hardik Pandya’s Intriguing Captaincy Take On MI Loss

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya was once again at the losing end as Rajasthan Royals all but secured their progression into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs with a thumping 9-wicket win. Hardik, who has been in the spotlight ever since he took over the franchise’s reins from Rohit Sharma, admitted that the team hasn’t been good enough in any of the three departments of the game. As mistakes as a batting unit, bowling unit, and in the field continue to cost Mumbai Indians important games, Hardik admitted it’s time to accept flaws and work on them. (IPL 2024 Points Table) “We put ourselves in trouble early on. The way Tilak and Nehal batted – that was fantastic. I don’t think that when we lost a couple of wickets early we thought we would even reach 180. We didn’t finish well and that’s why we were 10-15 runs short. We had to keep it within the stumps (while bowling). Early on in the powerplay, we gave a lot of width and I don’t think it was our best day in the field as well. Overall, we did not put the right foot in the park and eventually, they outplayed us,” Hardik said in the post-match presentation ceremony. There remain certain individuals in the game who are yet to fire this season. But, Hardik doesn’t believe in singling out players and talking to them individually. The MI skipper continues to believe in the professionalism that the players have and is hoping to see them rectify their mistakes themselves. “After the game, it’s not the right time to go to the players, everyone is professional, they know their roles. What we can do is learn from this game and the mistakes which we have made, rectify it and make sure that we don’t make it. Progression is very important. Within the team, individually, we will have to accept our flaws and maybe work on those,” he explained. Though Mumbai have lost their 5th game in 8 matches, Hardik continues to believe in the team that has been picked. He all but ruled out making big changes in the playing XI as the franchise enters a do-or-die stage in the campaign. “I don’t believe much in chip and chop, I like to back players and the focus would always be to play good cricket, sticking to our plans and making sure that we don’t make the basic errors. Cricket is simple, as long as we keep it simple, it’s nice,” he concluded. Topics mentioned in this article

‘Don’t think he needs advice from anyone’, skipper Sanju Samson hails centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal struck form with a dazzling, unbeaten 104 as Rajasthan Royals blew away five-time champions Mumbai Indians by nine wickets on Monday to consolidated their position at the top of the IPL table.Jaiswal, whose previous best this season was 39, ended a barren run by his lofty standards with his second IPL ton as Royals’ juggernaut this season continued.Skipper Sanju Samson, who himself has been pretty fluent this season also scored a handy unbeaten 28-ball 38 in Royals’ mauling of Mumbai. Samson shared an unbeaten 109-run stand with Jaiswal as the duo took the hosts across the finish line with 8 balls to spare. After the win, Samson said he was pleased with Jaiswal returning to form and pointed out the team knew it was only a matter of one game before Jaiswal found his mojo back. “I don’t think he (Jaiswal) needs (any advice from) anyone. He’s very confident. (It) was about one game,” Samson said in the post-match presentation.Samson credited Sandeep Sharma (5/18) and Avesh Khan for Rajasthan’s comeback in the game, as a 99-run fifth-wicket stand between Tilak Varma (65) and Nehal Wadhera (49) had lifted Mumbai Indians from a difficult position.“We started well in the powerplay and then the left-handers played (Yuzvendra) Chahal and (Ravichandran) Ashwin well. But the way Sandeep and Avesh came back, that’s why we won the game,” he said.“The wicket was dry but when the lights came on, the wicket gets better to bat. The way Jos (Buttler) and Yashasvi batted, we knew we had to reset and go again. People are professionals, we backed them to do well,” Samson added.Rajasthan, who won the inaugural IPL in 2008 under late Australian hero Shane Warne, registered their seventh win in eight matches.

‘MS Dhoni still leading the side, not Ruturaj Gaikwad’: Navjot Singh Sidhu makes a big statement on CSK captaincy | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu firmly expressed his opinion regarding the leadership dynamics within the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team, stating that despite Ruturaj Gaikwad‘s presence as the official captain, it is still the legendary MS Dhoni who is effectively leading the team.Sidhu’s observation emphasises the enduring influence and leadership prowess of Dhoni, who is widely regarded as one of the most successful captains in the history of Indian cricket.Sidhu, known for his outright comments, shared his viewpoint when asked who has impressed him the most, as per strategic point of view, among the current crop of young and new captains in the IPL so far.“If you talk about Ruturaj, he is still under the shadow of Dhoni. You can say as many times that Dhoni is not captaining, but ultimately he is leading the side. ‘Bargad ke neeche kya uga hai, uga kar dikhao. When Dhoni leaves, there might be no shadow of him,” said Sidhu, who is doing commentary in the ongoing IPL, on the #AskStar show on Star Sports. Sidhu also stated that one can only evaluate a captain after he has guided the team through nearly 50 matches.Sidhu praised Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson for his maturity and skillful resource management. And when it comes to the best leadership, the cricketer-turned commentator named Australian skipper Pat Cummins, currently leading Sunrisers Hyderabad, as the best captain.Dhoni’s tenure as captain of CSK has been marked by remarkable achievements, including five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles, which have solidified his reputation as a shrewd tactician and an astute leader. Despite stepping down from the captaincy role before the start of IPL 2024, Dhoni continues to exert a significant influence on the team’s strategy and decision-making, both on and off the field.Ruturaj, while assuming the formal captaincy position, may still be in the process of growing into his leadership role within the team. Dhoni’s experience, tactical acumen, and ability to mentor younger players likely play a crucial role in guiding Gaikwad and the rest of the team during matches and training sessions.Sidhu’s remarks highlight the intricate dynamics of leadership within cricket teams, where the presence of a seasoned veteran like Dhoni can continue to shape the team’s performance and direction, even as newer leaders emerge. Dhoni’s leadership legacy at CSK remains a cornerstone of the team’s identity, with his influence extending far beyond his official title.

Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Today Match Prediction & Live Odds – IPL 2024

Vann Hiso7 months ago7 months ago06 mins

Get to Know Who will win Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants, IPL 2024 Match and toss Prediction with Head to Head stats, Playing 11, CBTFJSK Tips, Live score & winning percentage. 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 : Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : Apr 23, 2024𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 19:30 IST / 14:00 GMT𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : MA Chidambaram Stadium – Chennai, India 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : IPL 2024 Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Betting Tips Shivam Dube has performed admirably well for CSK. He has scored runs in almost every game. Nearing the 250 run mark, Dube will be looking to make his presence felt once again when CSK returns to Chennai. Back him as CSK top batter. Ravindra Jadeja can be picked as the top bowler for CSK. He picked three wickets when CSK last played here. Since the ball is gripping and turning, Jadeja is a real threat for LSG.KL Rahul will be key for LSG against CSK. His ability to play spin well could well decide if LSG can compete against CSK. He scored 82 when the teams last met. Back him as LSG top batter. Krunal Pandya will have a big role to play with his left arm spin in Chennai thus he could be a good pick for top LSG bowler.We feel that Rachin Ravindra is due for a big score and he might be able to break the shackles against LSG. Back him to score more than 21.5 runs in the match. Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants T20 Match Prediction & Betting Tips, IPL 2024 Chennai Super Kings will take on Lucknow Super Giants in the 39th match of the IPL 2024. The game will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and will start at 7:30 PM IST on April 23. The two teams played their last game against each other and it was Lucknow Super Giants who registered a comprehensive win by eight wickets. The defeat was CSK’s third this season in seven games. The loss meant that CSK slipped to fourth in the IPL points table. Heading into the crucial clash, there is nothing that separates the two teams. LSG too have the same number of wins and losses thus the coming game stands of utmost importance as the winner will move up the points table while the other will slip further. As far as conditions are concerned, the wicket in Lucknow was very unlike Lucknow wicket as there was no help on offer for the spinners, however, one can bet that the pitch in Chennai will help the spinners. LSG won’t mind as they too have good spinners up their ranks. However, CSK have a dominant record at home and would to like to make scores even. Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Toss PredictionCaptains have preferred to chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as there is a good chance of restricting the team batting first to a low score. Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants Pitch ReportThe pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium helps spinners and bowlers who use variations. However, the quick outfield and short boundaries also allow big runs being scored. Sensible cricket is required to score runs here. Play the ball on merit and rotate strike. When get a bad ball, deposit it into the stands, simple! 170-180 can be a good score to defend here. Chennai Weather ReportThe temperature will range between 35 and 28 degrees. The humidity will be 67 per cent and the wind speed will be 21 kmph. Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds, and match prediction for Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants, Indian Premier League 2024

IPL 2024 | Virender Sehwag slams Sam Curran after PBKS vs GT: Wouldn’t have him in my team

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Virender Sehwag has slammed PBKS stand-in skipper Sam Curran, saying that he wouldn’t have him in the team as a batting or a bowling all-rounder as Punjab slumped to their 6th loss of the season. Curran scored 20 off 19 balls and picked up one wicket from his two overs as he conceded 18 runs. GT would end up winning the match as PBKS’ Mullanpur struggles continued. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Sehwag was very critical of Curran performances with both bat and ball, saying that a person who is doing some batting and bowling isn’t helping the side. The former India cricketer said that he needs to help the side with either the bat or with the ball, which he feels the England all-rounder has struggled to do all season. “I wouldn’t keep Sam Curran as a batting all-rounder or a bowling all-rounder. Because such a player is of no use, who does some batting and some bowling. Either you win the game with your batting or win the game with your bowling. Either you hit the bullseye or you don’t perform at all,” said Sehwag. Curran has opened the batting for PBKS in the last two games but hasn’t made a strong impact up top. IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule How well has Curran fared this season? Curran started things off with a fine performance with the bat against DC as he scored 63 to get PBKS off to a winning start. However, since then, the England all-rounder has struggled to make any impact with the ball or bat. In 8 matches so far, Curran has just 153 runs to his name with an average of 19. Curran had scored 276 runs last season in the IPL at an average of 27.60. In terms of bowling, while he has picked up 11 wickets, the economy rate has been 8.79 and he decided to only use himself twice against GT. Curran and Punjab will next be in action against KKR at the Eden Gardens on Friday, April 26 as they look to end their losing streak and return back to winning ways. The defeat to Gujarat means that PBKS are 9th on the table. Published On: Apr 22, 2024

IPL-17: PBKS vs GT | After the Sai Kishore show, Tewatia takes Titans home

Danijones7 months ago05 mins

Gujarat Titans bowler Sai Kishore celebrates after taking a wicket during the Indian Premier League 2024 match against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 21, 2024. | Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy In the battle of shaky top orders, Rahul Tewatia’s rearguard action took Gujarat Titans over the line by three wickets against Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday. Though a 143-run target was just what the under-fire Titans batting line-up would have wished for, poor shot selection helped Punjab claw back and give the Shubman Gill-led side a scare. At the 16-over mark, the visitor still needed 38 runs to win with the last recognised batting pair, Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan, at the crease. The former survived a close lbw shout in the following over, attempting a perilous reverse-sweep off Harpreet Brar. He backed himself and reprised the shot two deliveries later, fetching a boundary on this occasion. That opened the floodgates as 27 runs came off the next nine balls, with Kagiso Rabada’s over, 18th of the innings, going for 20 runs. Though Harshal Patel gave the crowd some cheer with two wickets in the 19th over with a yorker and a full toss, it wasn’t enough for Punjab to avoid its fourth consecutive defeat at home. Earlier, it was a familiar script for Punjab as Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma stood at the burning deck, with their team floundering at 86 for five. Unfortunately for the host, there was no redemption this time as both batters were back in the dugout in a span of three overs, deceived in flight by left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore. With the innings tottering at 99 for seven, it fell upon Impact Player Harpreet Singh Bhatia and No. 9 Harpreet Brar to drag the host to 142. After electing to bat, Punjab’s top order flattered to deceive as Sam Curran and Prabhsimran Singh put on the team’s second 50-run opening partnership of the season but were soon watching the proceedings from the sidelines. Prabhsimran, Rilee Rossouw, Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma succumbed to a rush of blood to the head, leaving their side in early trouble. Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad and Rashid Khan picked seven wickets between them, transcending seamer-friendly conditions and bamboozling the host in its den. Scoreboard PUNJAB KINGS: Sam Curran lbw b Rashid 20 (19b, 2×4), Prabhsimran Singh c Saha b Mohit 35 (21b, 3×4, 3×6), Rilee Rossouw lbw b Noor 9 (7b, 2×4), Jitesh Sharma b Sai Kishore 13 (12b, 1×6), Liam Livingstone c Tewatia b Noor 6 (9b, 1×4), Shashank Singh c & b Sai Kishore 8 (12b), Ashutosh Sharma c Mohit b Sai Kishore 3 (8b), Harpreet Bhatia (Impact Player in place of Prabhsimran) run out 14 (19b), Harpreet Brar c Shahrukh b Sai Kishore 29 (12b, 4×4, 1×6), Harshal Patel c Shahrukh b Mohit 0 (1b), Kagiso Rabada (not out) 1 (1b); Extras (lb-1, nb-1, w-2): 4; Total (in 20 overs): 142. FALL OF WICKETS: 1-52 (Prabhsimran, 5.3 overs), 2-63 (Rossouw, 6.6), 3-67 (Curran, 7.5), 4-78 (Livingstone, 10.2), 5-86 (Jitesh, 11.4), 6-92 (Ashutosh, 13.5), 7-99 (Shashank, 15.2), 8-139 (Harpreet Brar, 18.6), 9-140 (Harshal, 19.2). GUJARAT TITANS BOWLING: Omarzai 2-0-13-0, Warrier 1-0-21-0, Mohit 4-0-32-2, Rashid 4-0-15-1, Noor 4-0-20-2, Sai Kishore 4-0-33-4, Shahrukh 1-0-7-0.

Catch of IPL 2024? Cameron Green produces superhuman effort to grab one-handed stunner

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

Image Source : SCREENGRAB Cameron Green’s spectacular catch. Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Cameron Green pulled off a one-handed stunner to dismiss Kolkata Knight Riders batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi. The Aussie star produced a superhuman effort at mid-wicket during his side’s clash against KKR at Eden Gardens to send everyone in awe. The catch took place in the 6th over bowled by Yash Dayal when No.3 Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Venkatesh Iyer were looking to carry the momentum of the hosts, who had made a fiery start but lost two quick wickets. Yash removed Sunil Narine on the second ball of the 6th over and then he got Angrish on the back of a stunner from Green. Coming from over the wicket, left-hander Dayal bowled a length ball angling into the right-hander Angrish. The batter looked to flick in over mid-wicket but did not find the best of the timings as it flew to the mid-wicket region where Green was stationed. Green back-tracked himself, stretched himself lept in the air with his right hand in the air to grab a stunning catch. He fell onto the ground but completed a superhuman effort. RCB skipper Faf du Plessis and star batter Virat Kohli were chuffed to the bits and the team celebrated the fall of the third wicket in the powerplay itself. Watch the Video here: On seeing this catch, netizens could not keep calm and took to social media to express their emotions. “Cameron Green will not do anything wrong today!” a user posted on X. “What just happened! Cameron Green you beauty. Catch of the season,” the social media account Bharat Army wrote on X. Here are some of the reactions.

Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians Today Match Prediction & Live Odds – IPL 2024

Vann Hiso7 months ago7 months ago06 mins

Get to Know Who will win Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2024 Match and toss Prediction with Head to Head stats, Playing 11, CBTFJSK Tips, Live score & winning percentage. 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 : Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 : Apr 22, 2024𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 : 19:30 IST / 14:00 GMT𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐄 : Sawai Mansingh Stadium – Jaipur, India𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 : IPL 2024 Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians Betting Tips Jos Buttler scored a hundred against PBKS and helped RR chase the highest total in IPL history. Buttler when on song is hard to stop. Back him as RR top batter against MI. Trent Boult with his left arm swing bowling possesses abilities to blow MI top order. We are expecting him to deliver a good show against MI thus he is our pick for RR top bowler.Rohit Sharma has got starts but barring a hundred against CSK, he does not have a fifty+ score. Rohit needs to ensure he plays through the innings when set at the crease, something he is very capable off. Back him as MI top batter. Jasprit Bumrah has been magnificent for MI and is the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, with 13 wickets. He is a great pick for top bowler.Both MI and RR have multiple six hitters in the team and on a venue that is known to see some of the biggest hits, expect a lot of fireworks. Total sixes in the match should be over 15.5. Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website. Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians T20 Match Prediction & Betting Tips, IPL 2024 Rajasthan Royals will play Mumbai Indians in the 38th match of the IPL 2024. The game will be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur and will start at 7:30 PM IST on April 22nd. Rajasthan Royals have been the best team of the tournament so far. They are placed at the top of the table with six wins and just one defeat in seven matches. Their only defeat came against Gujarat Titans, however, that was a game they dominated for most part. The Royals look a brute force as each and every player has made a significant contribution to the team’s juggernaut. Meanwhile, MI have struggled to play best cricket. The team has lost four crucial matches and need a few back to back wins to have realistic chance of playoff qualification. MI have a strong team but somehow the team does not looks on the same page. Maybe the Hardik Pandya-Rohit Sharma captaincy change has something to do with it but the team has looked off colour. Another major concern for MI has been the lack of support for Jasprit Bumrah. While the ace Indian pacer has been outstanding, other bowlers have been hammered. Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians Match Toss PredictionToss will be crucial here as 180+ totals have been easily chased here in the previous two games. Captain winning the toss should chase again. Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians Pitch ReportThe pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur is batting friendly. The new ball has done a bit but short boundaries and quick outfield has ensured that players have caught up with the run rate when the ball stops moving. Spinners have got some help though and can be the game changers. Jaipur Weather ReportIt will be a humid evening with temperature hovering around high 20s. The humidity will be 22 per cent and the wind speed will be 12 kmph. There is a 10 per cent chance of rain. Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds, and match prediction for Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, Indian Premier League 2024

Dale Steyn indirectly refers to Jasprit Bumrah as ‘God’ after SRH inflict ‘mortal’-like carnage on DC bowlers | Cricket

Danijones7 months ago05 mins

After watching Sunrisers Hyderabad’s blitzkrieg show against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn admitted that while he is glad he is no longer an active cricketer, the 40-year-old pointed out an opportunity in disguise for the bowlers in IPL 2024, which the batters have so far ruled. Dale Steyn was all praise for Jasprit Bumrah after SRH’s carnage against DC IPL 2024 has been a high-scoring season with 15 200-plus totals in just 35 matches so far, of which the 250-run mark has been breached five times already, the most in a single season in the league’s history. Sunrisers own three of those scores, having notched up 277/3 against Mumbai Indians, which then emerged as the highest-ever total in IPL, before they smashed their record by clobbering 287/3 against RCB at the Chinnaswamy and later on Saturday, smashed 266/7 against Delhi. HT launches Crick-it, a one stop destination to catch Cricket, anytime, anywhere. Explore now! Sunrisers rode on another batting masterclass from Travis Head, who scored 89 off just 32 balls, which included a 16-ball fifty, the joint fastest this season, while Abhishek Sharma notched up 46 off just 12 balls as the openers amassed a record 125 runs in the powerplay, the most ever by any side in T20 history. Down the order, SRH found support from Shahbaz Ahmed, who laced five sixes in his 29-ball 59 not out as the visitors in New Delhi recorded this third highest total this season. Amid the carnage, Steyn reckoned that the IPL 2024 season offers bowlers the best opportunity to stand out from the lot and become “a wanted God”, implying that an economical performance in a season having the highest run-scoring rate will automatically raise the value of a bowler. Steyn tweeted: “I could make a joke and say I’m glad I’m retired and no longer bowling, but…It’s always a good time to be a bowler, if you can make yourself the best, you’ll be a wanted god among mere mortals. The slayer of rampaging runs! Insensitive’s have never been higher. I’d wana be a bowler more than anything! When subtly asked by a fan whether Steyn’s post referred to Jasprit Bumrah, the South Africa legend agreed. The fan said: “Just shorten it and say, ‘Be a Jasprit Bumrah!’” And Steyn replied saying: “Well, exactly that.” Bumrah is not only the current Purple Cap holder with 13 wickets for Mumbai Indians in seven games so far, but has also been the most economical bowler this season (among 57 players who have at least bowled 60 deliveries), having conceded at just 5.96 runs per over. The MI quick has not only been a potent weapon for the franchise with the new ball, but has been phenomenally restrictive in the death overs as well, where he picked six wickets (most in IPL 2024) at an economy rate of just 6.89.

Pakistan Trounce Depleted New Zealand In Second T20I

Danijones7 months ago05 mins

Left-armers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Amir shared five wickets to rock New Zealand for a paltry 90 before Mohammad Rizwan anchored the chase to help Pakistan win the second Twenty20 clash Saturday in Rawalpindi. Shaheen led the attack with 3-13 while Amir, returning to international cricket after nearly four years, finished with 2-13 as the visitors were bowled out in 18.1 overs after being sent in to bat. Rizwan finished with 45 not out off 34 balls with a six and four boundaries to ensure Pakistan chased down a modest target in 12.1 overs for a seven wicket win and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The first match, also in Rawalpindi, was washed out after just two deliveries on Thursday. New Zealand did fight back with wickets of Saim Ayub (four), Babar Azam (14) and debutant Usman Khan (seven) but Muhammad Irfan Khan (run-a-ball 18) partnered Rizwan in an unfinished 36-run stand to seal victory. Ayub hit a boundary off the first ball of the innings before giving a return catch to pacer Ben Lister off the next while Azam was stumped off rival skipper Michael Bracewell and Usman bowled by spinner Ish Sodhi. Azam credited his bowling for the kickstart. “It’s crucial to set the tone in first six overs at this ground,” said Azam of the Pindi stadium which saw a packed 16,000 week-end crowd. “The way Naseem, Shaheen and Amir bowled was outstanding and helped us get early wickets.” Bracewell lamented batting failure. “We didn’t score quite enough runs,” said Bracewell. “We were little bit slow to adapt to the surface and put ourselves under pressure in the end. We got a game tomorrow and we need to learn quickly.” Earlier Amir — returning to international cricket after nearly four years — jolted New Zealand in the opening overs. Amir retired abruptly in 2020 after he was dropped from the team, the second break in his career after he was banned for five years in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010. Spinners Abrar Ahmed (2-15) and Shadab Khan (2-15) doubled the pressure as New Zealand were dismissed for their second lowest total against Pakistan in the game’s shortest format. Mark Chapman (19), Cole McConchie (15), Dean Foxcroft (13) and Tim Seifert (13) were the only batsmen to reach double figures. Chapman hit three boundaries in his 16-ball knock. New Zealand’s lowest T20I total against Pakistan is 80, made at Christchurch in 2010. Fast bowler Naseem Shah, also playing his first match since injuring his shoulder in September last year, took 1-27 in four overs. Both teams are preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in June in the United States and the West Indies. New Zealand are missing a host of their top players due to playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League, unavailability and injuries. The remaining matches are in Rawalpindi on Sunday followed by the last two in Lahore on April 25 and 27. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Topics mentioned in this article