SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates (AFP) – Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, claimed Pakistan were clinical and classic in their five-wicket loss to his team in the Group 2 Twenty20 World Cup encounter in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Pakistan kept their cool in chasing a meagre 135-run mark, losing five wickets before cruising home in 18.4 overs for their second Super 12 Stages victory.
Haris Rauf, a fast bowler, took a career-best 4-22 to restrict New Zealand to 134-8 in 20 overs.
Pakistan were 87-5 and needed 48 in 5.1 overs when Shoaib Malik (26 not out) and Asif Ali (26 not out) got them home.
“I guess, if we look at the opponents and how clinical they were at the end, not allowing us to timing the ball,” Williamson remarked.
Williamson, who struck a sluggish 26-ball 25, and the rest of the New Zealand batsmen struggled to keep the innings moving, with Devon Conway and Daryll Mitchell both making 27.
“For us, it’s about trying to take some of those lessons and apply them to the future.”
After defeating arch-rivals India by 10 wickets in their first game in Dubai on Sunday, Pakistan now has four points from two games.
Asif’s powerful hitting was commended by Williamson.
“I guess it was about 52 or 30-ish at one point,” Williamson added. “It was difficult to timing the ball in on this surface.” Someone like Malik hitting through and finishing with a few high smashes.
“Asif, who came in and smacked the ball superbly, much, much sweeter than anyone else on a difficult surface.” Unfortunately, things did not proceed as planned.”
Asif, who has been chastised for his recent poor form, hammered two sixes in Tim Southee’s 17th over to reduce the goal to 24 in three overs.
Williamson was disappointed to lose speed wonder Lockie Ferguson to a calf injury before the game.
“Lockie is a world-class T20 player, so it’s a massive loss for us, especially on that surface,” Williamson said of Ferguson, who has been ruled out of the competition.
“It was awful timing, but the boys went out and competed quite well, making many smart judgments along the road.” When you play low-scoring games on difficult conditions, as we did tonight, the margins are razor-thin.
“Unfortunately, a few of misses means a lot when it counts, and there’s a lot to be learned from such experiences.” Pakistan were fantastic on the day, and they completed the game superbly on a very difficult surface.”
New Zealand will now meet India in Dubai on Sunday in a contest that both sides must win.
“We have another tough match against India coming up at a different stadium, so we’ll have to do some more preparing there.”