New Zealand’s captain Michael Bracewell commended his bowlers after securing a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the second T20I. The bowlers effectively managed the challenging windy conditions and restricted Pakistan’s score. Key performances from Finn Allen and Tim Seifert contributed to an easy chase, leading to New Zealand taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell praised his bowlers after their impressive five-wicket victory against Pakistan in the second T20I at University Oval. He acknowledged the difficult conditions, particularly the strong wind, which his bowlers handled adeptly to keep Pakistan’s score manageable. “The bowling was extraordinary… particularly well and kept them to a score, which we’re pretty happy with,” Bracewell stated, reflecting on their strategic execution during the match.
The New Zealand pace attack set an aggressive pace at the start, with Jacob Duffy and Ben Sears taking key wickets during the powerplay. Ish Sodhi’s two-wicket over hindered Pakistan’s batting effort, although Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi’s late contributions helped achieve a somewhat respectable total. New Zealand, however, responded confidently, propelled by Finn Allen’s explosive hitting and Tim Seifert’s rapid scoring, ultimately ensuring a comfortable five-wicket win.
Bracewell noted the influence of the windy conditions on their game plan, emphasizing their strategy to target favorable overs. “It’s a pretty small ground here, and it was very tough bowling into that wind today… we aimed to target the downwind overs,” he explained. Despite Shaheen Afridi’s initial tight over, New Zealand took control early, hitting seven sixes within the first three overs.
Although Pakistan did manage a few breakthroughs during the middle overs, New Zealand maintained the upper hand and comfortably chased down their target with 11 balls remaining. With a 2-0 advantage in the five-match series, Bracewell expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and encouraged consistency in their approach. “We’ve been playing some really good cricket so far, so we just want to continue what we’re doing,” he concluded.
Michael Bracewell’s commendation of his bowlers signals a strong team performance amid challenging conditions in the win over Pakistan. Key contributions from the bowling unit restricted their opponents effectively, while Finn Allen and Tim Seifert’s explosive batting facilitated a smooth chase. With this victory, New Zealand has established a competitive lead in the series, highlighting their strategic achievements and calling for continued excellence.
Original Source: www.thehansindia.com
