The Pakistan cricket team is going through a very bad phase these days. After the disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy, the team hoped for a fresh start on the New Zealand tour, but luck did not favor them there as well. In the first match of the five-match T20 series, Pakistan was defeated by the host New Zealand by 9 wickets. After this, Pakistan had to face defeat as well in the second match played at the University Oval ground in Dunedin.
New Zealand invited Pakistan to bat first and the Pak team could only score 135/9 runs in the stipulated 15 overs. In reply, New Zealand achieved the target of 136 runs in just 13.1 overs by losing 5 wickets. With this win, New Zealand took a 2-0 lead in the 5 match series.
Pakistani bowlers beaten, Shaheen Afridi made a shameful record
In this match, Pakistani bowlers flopped badly. Especially the team’s star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was thrashed badly. Although Shaheen started bowling in a great way, but in his next over, New Zealand batsmen thrashed him mercilessly. During this, Shaheen Afridi made a shameful record of bowling the most expensive over of his T20 international career.
Shaheen had a great start with a maiden over
New Zealand openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert started off their chase. Shaheen Afridi bowled a brilliant maiden over in the first over and did not give a single run. It seemed that Shaheen had returned to his rhythm in this match, but his performance faded in the next over.
Finn Allen thrashed Muhammad Ali
After Shaheen, Mohammad Ali bowled the second over, but he was badly beaten. New Zealand opener Finn Allen hit three sixes in this over and devastated the Pakistani bowling. After this, when Shaheen Afridi came to bowl the third over, Tim Seifert thrashed him badly.
4 sixes were hit in Shaheen’s most expensive over
When Shaheen Afridi came to bowl the third over, Seifert hit a six on the very first ball. He also sent the ball across the boundary on the second ball. Seifert did not take any run on the third ball, but stole two runs on the fourth ball. Seifert also hit sixes on the last two balls of the over. In this way, Shaheen conceded a total of 26 runs in his over. This proved to be the most expensive over of his T20 international career.
Shaheen’s most expensive over of his T20 career
After this shameful performance, Shaheen Afridi’s most expensive over of T20 international career was recorded. He bowled a total of 3 overs in this match and conceded 31 runs, but did not get a single wicket.
Shaheen Afridi’s most expensive overs in T20 International career:
- 26 runs: against New Zealand, Dunedin, 2025
- 24 runs: against New Zealand, Auckland, 2024
- 24 runs: Against Australia, Hobart, 2024
- 21 runs: Against Ireland, Dublin, 2024
- 21 runs: Against Australia, Dubai, 2021
Pakistan’s batting also failed
Pakistan’s batting was also very disappointing in this match. Due to a poor start, the entire team could score only 135 runs. Captain Babar Azam scored 42 runs for Pakistan, while Mohammad Rizwan scored 29 runs. However, the middle order and the lower order were a complete flop.
Strong performance by New Zealand
Chasing the target, New Zealand had a great start. Finn Allen scored a quick 45 runs, while Tim Seifert hit 38 runs. Pakistan’s bowlers once again proved ineffective.
Pakistan lags behind in the series
With this defeat, Pakistan is behind 2-0 in the 5 match series. The team now has to win three consecutive matches to make a comeback in the series, which seems difficult considering the current form. Pakistan’s poor bowling and batting has become a matter of concern for the team.
The performance of the Pakistan cricket team has been very poor so far on the New Zealand tour. Especially the fact that an experienced bowler like Shaheen Afridi bowled the most expensive over is a matter of concern for the team. If Pakistan has to make a comeback in the series, it will have to make a big improvement in its performance, otherwise the team may have to face a clean sweep.
