World Cup 2019: Pakistan beats unbeaten New Zealand by 6 wickets

People used to get fascinated by seeing the 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar playing for India. Some even doubted his talent, but it was always a moment of rejoicing when he hit those big shots and brought victory to the team. Cricket has seen many young lads such as Virat Kohli, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi follow that tradition and take charge tonight it was, Shaheen Afridi.

The young 19-year-old pacer broke the backbone of New Zealand’s mostly settled trio Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, and Tom Latham within the first 50 runs of the team. His set of 3 wickets for 28 runs set the tone for the game and gave Pakistan the head-start required to beat the unbeaten Kiwis.

Pak’s love for its fast bowlers is beyond description. The pace and swing are all that matters when bowlers like Afridi come to play for Pakistan. A speed of 144-147 kmph that comes with a lot of practice comes to Pakistani bowlers naturally and that steals the show for them.

Wednesday (June 26), Shaheen shined. Three wickets from his bowling spell put New Zealand under pressure that even skipper Kane Williamson couldn’t beat and gave away his wicket for 41 off 69 balls to Shadab Khan.

Where the entire world was sitting to watch Mohammad Amir’s dangerous bowling, Shaheen took the whiff away with his spell. And did someone say something about the Pak skipper being unfit and pizzas and burgers? The three most crucial wickets of the innings were caught out by Sarfaraz Ahmad including Williamson and that put Pak in a good fielding position. Seven overs, 11 runs, and three wickets out of some good length bowling is what Afridi has worked on since he played U-15 and Munro’s early dismissal surely reminds of the past.

Left-arm fast bowlers depend much on the swing of the ball but Afridi here can equally ace Yorkers. Bowlers who can swing the ball with the use of their wrist strength can change the game picking up wickets at the most unexpected of times. New Zealand was left baffled by the way Afridi’s ball was swinging as it shows how the three batsmen lost their wickets in the same pattern. Ross Taylor’s miscalculation assessing the swing to the length of the ball and bending forward in defence, hit the edge of the bat and he departed.

Though Babar Azam was named ‘Man of the Match’ for his fabulous knock of 101 off 127 not out, if it was not because of Shaheen, Pak wouldn’t be able to tied New Zealand. However, they gave away the first innings in the last few overs, it all didn’t make any difference when Babar Azam and Haris Sohail’s 100-plus partnership to seal the deal for Pakistan. The hopes of getting through to the semis are still on.

New Zealand’s unimpressive bowling packed with Pakistan’s best batting performance in this tournament brought character to yet another must-win game for the team.