Pakistan were victorious over New Zealand this morning in Pallekele but the match provided arguably the most gripping contest in the World T20 tournament to date.
The New Zealanders had themselves to blame with a sloppy fielding performance but righted those wrongs with a plucky chase using one of their less conventional batting line-ups in recent times.
Their 164 for nine came up 13 runs short of Pakistan's 177 for six. Tomorrow's result between Pakistan and Bangladesh will determine whether New Zealand progress to the Super Eight stage. All five T20 internationals at this ground have been won by the team batting first.
Pakistan made the most of a batting pitch WG Grace would have been proud of. It did a passable imitation of tarseal. No. 3 batsmen Nasir Jamshed led the way. In just his fourth T20 international the 22-year-old left-hander had a stroke for every delivery on his way to 56 runs off 35 balls. He eased the ball off his pads, drove through the covers and, when late call-up Adam Milne dropped short, the sweet spot of Jamshed's bat was there to hook him for six.
His second-wicket partnership of 76 with captain Mohammad Hafeez was the heart of the Pakistan total. Hafeez should have been caught by Ross Taylor in a regulation slip catch on the third ball of the innings from Kyle Mills. Taylor looked up at Mills in disbelief; Mills' eyebrows knitted into an almighty frown. It was a surprise error from the captain who has the most catches (27) in T20 internationals. The mistake cost New Zealand 43 runs.
