[ad_1]
HYDERABAD: The eerie silence in the stands was quite unnerving as one has got used to huge crowds, especially in the sub-continent, rooting for their favourite team and players. All the drama and noise were missing on Friday as the World Cup warm-up match between Pakistan and New Zealand was played behind closed doors at the RGIC Stadium, here.
But the willow, as is usual at this ground, made all the necessary noise as batters from both teams enjoyed their stay on the pitch. After Pakistan made a competitive 345, New Zealand, runners-up in the last edition of the World Cup, powered their way to 346 for five, on way to a five-wicket victory.
Rachin Ravindra, who opened the innings with Devon Conway, and regular skipper Kane Williamson set up the win with a 137-run stand for the second wicket before the latter retired hurt. The most heartening aspect for the Kiwis was the form of Williamson. The right-handed bat, who is coming off a long injury break, looked quite at ease during his 76-minute knock which yielded 54 runs off 50 balls with eight hits to the fence.
Williamson is no stranger to the RGIC ground as he has been with the Sunrisers Hyderabad side for a long time. The familiarity with the conditions is what Williamson needed in his comeback game and he responded quite well.
Ravindra made the most of the opportunity to bat at the top with a superb 97 which came off just 72 balls and contained 16 boundaries and one over it. In fact, his first seven scoring strokes were all boundaries and he got his first non-boundary run after 24 balls. The left-handed bat took a heavy toll of the Pakistan bowling, which lacked the necessary bite to make an impact. Daryl Mitchell (59 retd hurt; 50b, 3×4, 2×6), Mark Chapman (65 no; 41b, 6×3, 3×6) and James Neesham (33) finished the formalities.
Earlier, the absolute stillness in the stadium was compounded as Pakistan made quite a sedate and slow start. Openers Imam-ul-Haq (1) and Abdullah Shafiq (14) failed to make use of the opportunity to bat first on a good batting track. Skipper Babar Azam and wicket-keeper bat Mohammad Rizwan came together in the 12th over of the innings and started the rebuilding process. After the rain-induced break, the Pakistan batters stole the show as they literally toyed with the Kiwi bowling. Babar stroked his way to an elegant 80 (84balls; 8×4, 2×6) and Rizwan smashed a 94-ball 103 (9×4, 2×6) before retiring hurt. Babar and Rizwan added 114 off 110 balls for the third wicket.
Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha (33 not out) took over the proceedings as Pakistan looked to turn on the heat. Left-handed Saud was impressive as he displayed a repertoire of strokes in his 53-ball 75 (5×4, 4×6). Pakistan finished with a flourish as they reached 345 for five of their allotted 50 overs. They got 107 in the last 10 overs.
But the willow, as is usual at this ground, made all the necessary noise as batters from both teams enjoyed their stay on the pitch. After Pakistan made a competitive 345, New Zealand, runners-up in the last edition of the World Cup, powered their way to 346 for five, on way to a five-wicket victory.
Rachin Ravindra, who opened the innings with Devon Conway, and regular skipper Kane Williamson set up the win with a 137-run stand for the second wicket before the latter retired hurt. The most heartening aspect for the Kiwis was the form of Williamson. The right-handed bat, who is coming off a long injury break, looked quite at ease during his 76-minute knock which yielded 54 runs off 50 balls with eight hits to the fence.
Williamson is no stranger to the RGIC ground as he has been with the Sunrisers Hyderabad side for a long time. The familiarity with the conditions is what Williamson needed in his comeback game and he responded quite well.
Ravindra made the most of the opportunity to bat at the top with a superb 97 which came off just 72 balls and contained 16 boundaries and one over it. In fact, his first seven scoring strokes were all boundaries and he got his first non-boundary run after 24 balls. The left-handed bat took a heavy toll of the Pakistan bowling, which lacked the necessary bite to make an impact. Daryl Mitchell (59 retd hurt; 50b, 3×4, 2×6), Mark Chapman (65 no; 41b, 6×3, 3×6) and James Neesham (33) finished the formalities.
Earlier, the absolute stillness in the stadium was compounded as Pakistan made quite a sedate and slow start. Openers Imam-ul-Haq (1) and Abdullah Shafiq (14) failed to make use of the opportunity to bat first on a good batting track. Skipper Babar Azam and wicket-keeper bat Mohammad Rizwan came together in the 12th over of the innings and started the rebuilding process. After the rain-induced break, the Pakistan batters stole the show as they literally toyed with the Kiwi bowling. Babar stroked his way to an elegant 80 (84balls; 8×4, 2×6) and Rizwan smashed a 94-ball 103 (9×4, 2×6) before retiring hurt. Babar and Rizwan added 114 off 110 balls for the third wicket.
Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha (33 not out) took over the proceedings as Pakistan looked to turn on the heat. Left-handed Saud was impressive as he displayed a repertoire of strokes in his 53-ball 75 (5×4, 4×6). Pakistan finished with a flourish as they reached 345 for five of their allotted 50 overs. They got 107 in the last 10 overs.
[ad_2]
Source link