PAK VS NZ - 2nd T20I, Pakistan v New Zealand in UAE, 2018

Pakistan have buried the ghosts of a poor Asia Cup and bounced back with vengeance. First Australia swatted aside and now New Zealand have been humbled. Both games have been close but not close enough to see a different result. 2-0 and the series to Pakistan. Final game will have a different tale? We, the story-tellers will narrate it for sure. Time for our team of Vineet Anantharaman, Hariprasad Sadanandan and Naga to hop off. This is Kumar Abhisekh Das waving a tada!

Sarfraz Ahmed: All these achievements are efforts of the boys. We started off well but we played out a few dot balls in the middle. Hasan Ali bats at 10 in our line up. So, we know we can track down these totals. But the experienced heads in the form of Hafeez and Malik finished it off. Our boys are executing better day by day. We have the batting order that can chase 150-160 easily. We discuss the plans and execute it. Hafeez is in great form and the way he has availed his chances, it is great for Pakistan. Babar Azam is a talented played and I am glad to see that he is improving every day. Asif has been sent up the order to ensure that he gets time before cutting loose. Down the order he does not get time and we feel if he gets in, he can play the big shots at ease.

Kane Williamson: Credit to the way Pakistan played. They have a clear pattern of play which they have executed in the last few matches here at UAE. It is important to be a bit better all round. You are always looking for wickets and how you are getting it matters in different conditions. We weren't far away but credit to Pakistan. We need to keep improving.

Shaheen Afridi, Man of the Match: I am trying to perform for Pakistan in every game. Our coaching stuff has helped me a lot, especially, Azhar Mahmood. I feel I am bowling my yorkers better of late. I figure out the weak zones of a batsman and bowl accordingly. I do what is asked of me. I would be happy to serve Pakistan for a long time.

Pakistan were asked to chase? So what? The result has not changed. The Pakistani juggernaut continues in the shortest format. The mercurial masters are dominating a fickle format! And how? New Zealand brought a twist to the tale by putting up a score (153) in the favored region of 145-155 and almost scared Pakistan but Hafeez stood tall till the end to see it through. 34 off 21 balls on a sluggish wicket was easily the difference and his removal of Munro while bowling also saved Pakistan some runs. The chase had a similar template. Babar tried batting through but got out attempting a shot of bravado. Asif who was supposed to show some bravado did so at a lesser clip. But then New Zealand had Ish Sodhi terribly out of form and he gave away 39 runs to allow Pakistan the leverage they needed in a such a chase. And a word for Shaheen Afridi? 18 years and he already has traits of being a superstar! His yorkers were metronomical and New Zealand hardly got anything off him.

Milne to Hafeez, FOUR, there you go! The experienced Hafeez has done it. Full ball, slams the ball over cover and that is a four. Pakistan win their 11th T20I series under Sarf in a row. 11th successive successful run-chase as well

Milne to Hafeez, 2 runs, nails the low full toss down the ground and skipper Sarf calls Hafeez for a couple and makes it. The throw from long-on came at the batter's end but Hafeez was quick

Sarfraz Ahmed, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Milne to Shoaib Malik, out Caught by Glenn Phillips!! Low full toss dipping on the batsman who slogs the ball away for the man at deep mid to take it. Big smile on the face of Milne, who knows there is still a lot to do. Did not time it at all and also was trying to hit it to the largest part of the ground. Shoaib Malik c Glenn Phillips b Milne 10(7) [6s-1]

Milne to Shoaib Malik, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Rajdeep Agrawal: Yet another total in the sub-150 range and yet another interesting chase. Wonder what's with UAE and middling totals...

Milne to Hafeez, 1 run, full ball, driven down to mid-off and they steal a single. A direct hit and Hafeez was a goner! But he survives. 6 needed now

Adam Milne [2.0-0-18-1] is back into the attack

Who bowls it? Williamson, Southee and Milne are having a confab. Seems to be Milne. Some field changes being made.

Southee to Hafeez, 1 run, sits down and laps the ball away to deep mid. Of course he wanted to play it much finer but gets it away to deep mid for a single. 7 off the final over to win and 6 for a super over

Southee to Hafeez, no run, too full, Hafeez reaches out for it and finds the man at cover. Dot balls are precious

Southee to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, toe-ends the wide length ball to long-off for a single. 8 more needed off 8 balls. Should be easy peasy? The cliched all three results possible does not fit in. Does it?

Southee to Hafeez, 1 run, threads the cover drive into the gap and they get a single down to deep cover. Shoaib Malik wanted a double but was sent back

Southee to Shoaib Malik, 1 run, too full, bludgeoned down to long-on for a single. That was more of a jammed out hit

Southee to Shoaib Malik, wide, bowls it almost similarly. This time might have been closer to the tramline. Fifty fifty call goes in favour of Pakistan. And that is because the batsman is moving across the sticks a bit. 11 needed now

Southee to Shoaib Malik, wide, full but wide outside the tramline and has been wided. Shoaib Malik was moving across but that was sent wider and fair call