New Zealand won by 79 runs
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Devon Conway
Batter
Bowler
That's all from this game. The decider will be played at the same venue on Friday (January 13). Join us for that. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..
Kane Williamson | New Zealand captain: You never really know hundred percent (what to do at the toss). We had Ish and he's been bowling really well.. (reason for batting first). There were a few challenges in both innings and it was good to get the win. We sort of felt that even though we had a good partnership 300 wasn't on our mind. There were some good contributions towards the end to get us to a par total. We knew it would be a tough chase and we knew we had to execute our plans, get something out of the surface and the spinners did that. It offered some assistance in both innings; Pakistan got it to reverse in the first and there was some help for the spinners in the second. It will be nice to play a decider.
Babar Azam | Pakistan captain: We didn't start well with the ball but came back nicely. Also, we lost a couple of wickets early with the bat and hence we were behind the game. The plan between myself and Rizwan was to take the game deep but losing wickets puts pressure on you. The wicket had turn and bounce, it was difficult to take on the spinners and Salman did well to play his shots. The ball was coming on differently compared to the first match but credit to the New Zealand spinners as they bowled well. The pitch generally plays better in the second innings here but today was a one off.
Devon Conway | Player of the Match: We were certainly targeting 300 especially with that partnership. We lost Allen early but myself and Kane steadied the ship. I have to give a lot of credit to Kane, there was pressure but he kept me calm, told me how to play and ensured I don't throw it away. When you are playing spin you have to be proactive as you could see when our spinners were bowling.
Mitchell Santner: I think we were a lot tighter with the ball. It was good to get two wickets in the powerplay, it surely spun more than it did in the first game and not sure why. We were looking like getting 300 but lost a few wickets in the middle but were reasonably happy with the score. I was targeting 280 but knew if we could scrap to 250-260 then we could defend it.
22:05 Local Time, 17:05 GMT, 22:35 IST: New Zealand read the conditions perfectly. Williamson could have easily chosen to bowl after winning the toss but he elected to bat, picked an extra spinner and has now leveled the series. There was plenty of help for the spinners and New Zealand's combined spin figures read - 30-0-114-5. The chase never got going as the openers were sent back within the first four overs. Babar and Rizwan got together, stitched a 50+ stand for the third wicket but that came at a slow pace. Salman injected some impetus to the innings but he too didn't last long and Babar was left with too much to do with the tail. In the end, he was stumped thanks to Latham's smartness and Sodhi took three more balls to finish the game. Presentations coming up..
END OF OVER 43
8 Runs
PAK: 182 - 10
6 2 W 0 0 W
Haris Rauf
0 (3)
Naseem Shah
0 (2)
Ish Sodhi
8-0-38-2
Ish Sodhi to Haris Rauf, out Caught by M Bracewell!! New Zealand win by 79 runs. Rauf wasn't going to hang around and after a couple of blocks he decides to play the big shot. He jumps out of the crease and Sodhi makes him reach the flighted delivery, the toe-end goes straight up towards long-off and Bracewell calmly settles under it. Haris Rauf c M Bracewell b Ish Sodhi 0(3)
Ish Sodhi to Haris Rauf, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
Ish Sodhi to Haris Rauf, no run, googly and it turns back in, Rauf blocks it back down the pitch
Ish Sodhi to Haris Rauf, no run, tossed up around off, Rauf prods forward and defends to the off-side
Haris Rauf, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam, out Stumped!! That's brilliant from Latham. Very much Dhoniesque. He waited for the right time to remove the bails and that has caught Babar's leg in the air. Fired full and outside off, Babar attempts the reverse sweep and does not connect, his back leg was in the crease when he missed but lifts it just for a second to gather his balance and that's when Latham lights up the stumps. Babar Azam st Latham b Ish Sodhi 79(114) [4s-8 6s-1]
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam, THATS OUT!! Stumped!!
Stumping check sent upstairs. Dar sends it up reluctantly. Latham was pretty excited and wanted it to be checked. UltraEdge rules out caught behind. This looks close. Is Babar's leg in the air? The third umpire has asked for the stump cam. Will the benefit of doubt go to Babar? "The foot is in the air," confirms the third umpire. OUT!
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam, 2 runs, flighted outside off, Babar drives to deep extra cover and Conway makes a sliding stop with his legs, saved a brace
Ish Sodhi to Babar Azam, SIX, Babar will keep fighting. Half tracker outside off, Babar had the width to free his arms and he slaps it well over long-off
END OF OVER 42
2 Runs
PAK: 174 - 8
1 0 W 1 0 0
Naseem Shah
0 (2)
Babar Azam
71 (111)
Mitchell Santner
10-0-34-1
Santner to Naseem Shah, no run, slower and on leg-stump, Naseem is happy to defend it into the leg-side
Santner to Naseem Shah, no run, throws it up invitingly outside off, Naseem goes for the big slog and misses it by a mile
Santner to Babar Azam, 1 run, tossed up around off, Babar eases it to long-on
Naseem Shah, right handed bat, comes to the crease