Pak vs NZ 3rd T20I – Pakistan slowdown – Babar Azam, Shadab Khan and Azhar Mahmood respond

“In the middle period, we were slow. Between overs seven to ten, and then 11 to 15, the ball was gripping and we slowed down. These are the things we have to learn to improve”

Azhar Mahmood

Pakistan managed just 51 runs in the next seven overs as New Zealand applied the brakes. Collectively, Babar and Rizwan scored 59 runs in 50 balls. Babar was dismissed in the 11th over. Rizwan retired hurt with a hamstring injury in the 13th.

Shadab and Irfan’s fireworks helped Pakistan score 75 in the last seven as they got close to the score Babar said Pakistan were originally targeting.

“These are the things we have to learn to improve. But you have to pay credit to the way Chapman played. In T20 cricket, if one man stands up, he can take the game away from you.”

It was Shadab’s 41 off 20 that took Pakistan to their eventual total after he came in to bat at six. He has made the upper-middle order his own with Islamabad United, but said he was happy to be moved around as and when required. Most significantly, though, the vice-captain looked to draw a distinction between a big innings and a consequential one.

“I have played one-down and two-down in the PSL and that’s where I think I am most comfortable. But I’m also fine with being used as a floater,” he said. “If I get a chance, the planning will be the same – I’m the sort of player who will look to make quick runs.

“Sometimes, you need impactful innings, especially in T20 cricket nowadays. Making runs consistently in T20 cricket isn’t difficult, but playing impactful innings is difficult.”