Daily Times

Skipper Sarfraz Ahmad and his charges concluded their tour Down Under on a high when they won the three-match Twenty20 International series 2-1, against expectations, against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. After beaten black and blue in the preceding five-match one-day international series, there was not much hope in the shortest format of the game. One was sure that there would be no miracles. But Pakistan kept their unpredictability tag intact when they overwhelmed the Black Caps in the last contest by 18 runs and laid claim to being the best Twenty20 side in the world. After losing the first T20 in Wellington by seven wickets, their sixth consecutive defeat at the hands of the hosts, Pakistan pulled off back-to-back wins to mark an incredible comeback. The consecutive defeats, following an unbeaten 13-match winning streak across all formats against the West Indies and Pakistan, has put a dampener on New Zealand’s preparation for next month’s triangular series with Australia and England.

No doubt, it was a difficult tour but Pakistan have had the last laugh on it. In a high-octane, series-deciding, third and final T20I, Pakistan humbled New Zealand, setting them a daunting 182 to win and then restricting them in the field. New Zealand, in reply, were never up with the run chase, and managed 163 for six in their 20 overs. It was two years and 14 matches since Pakistan last defeated New Zealand in any format, anywhere in the world.

It was another imperious show by Pakistan, who won the second T20 by 48 runs after New Zealand were unable to cross the 202 target. New Zealand lacked aggression and good partnerships in the last two games, which gave Pakistan an ample opportunity to overwhelm their opponents with ease. The targets set by Pakistan in the last two matches – 201 and 182 – looked beyond the Kiwis almost from the start of their scratchy, plodding reply. Showing an inability to rotate the strike, against pace and spin alike, the New Zealand batsmen got stuck and never approached the run rate required to mount a genuine challenge.

After being blown away in the ODI series, the change of format brought good tidings for Pakistan. The shortest format of the game is much more accommodating to their brand of madness. Pakistan are the only team to reach the semifinals of the World T20 in the first four editions. They won one out of those four. Lady-luck was also on Pakistan’s side who batted first in all three matches. Except for the first game, Pakistan made the most of the good conditions early on in the last two matches, racing to formidable totals that proved an uphill task for the hosts. Pakistan were right in their comfort zone, accumulating runs and playing the fast-paced brand of limited-overs cricket that they have not yet adjusted to.

In fact, the series win augurs really well for Sarfraz and his boys considering the upcoming challenges that lie ahead for this outfit. One cannot and should not expect consistency from Pakistan, because their volatile nature of play is what makes them one of the most interesting teams in the world: hardest to beat, easiest to down, both at the same time. Discussing the same – either to praise or to slam – is now almost a repetitive exercise. They will always be like this, they will always remain unpredictable!

Published in Daily Times, January 30^th 2018.