Bracewell Commends Bowlers for Their 'Remarkable' Display Against Pakistan
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Synopsis
In a thrilling encounter, New Zealand secured a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second T20I, with captain Michael Bracewell commending the bowlers for their extraordinary performance despite challenging wind conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Bracewell praised his bowlers after a five-wicket win.
- The bowlers performed excellently against strong winds.
- New Zealand's bowlers restricted Pakistan to a manageable total.
- Finn Allen and Tim Seifert led a strong batting response.
- The Kiwis aim to maintain their winning form in the series.
Dunedin, March 18 (NationPress) New Zealand's acting captain Michael Bracewell expressed his admiration for the bowlers following their impressive five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second T20I at University Oval.
After the match, Bracewell acknowledged the remarkable effort of his bowlers, particularly those who faced the challenging wind conditions.
"The bowling was remarkable, to start with. The guys bowling against the wind today performed exceptionally well, restricting them to a score we are quite pleased with. That was certainly an evaluation made during the match. It likely deviates from the typical instincts of death bowlers, as they didn't rely on yorkers and similar tactics," Bracewell commented post-victory in the second T20I versus Pakistan.
The New Zealand fast bowlers set a solid foundation early on, with Jacob Duffy and Ben Sears taking key wickets during the powerplay phase. Ish Sodhi’s two-wicket over further disrupted Pakistan’s innings, although late contributions from Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi helped them reach a somewhat competitive total.
Nonetheless, the Kiwis remained untroubled in their pursuit, propelled by Finn Allen’s explosive start and Tim Seifert’s rapid innings, ultimately securing the five-wicket victory.
Bracewell also pointed out how the windy conditions were crucial to their game plan. "This ground is relatively small, and bowling into that wind today was quite challenging. It was really strong. We aimed to take advantage of the downwind overs and adjust our strategies accordingly," he elaborated.
Despite Shaheen Afridi starting with a maiden over, New Zealand quickly took command, hitting seven sixes in the first three overs. While Pakistan managed a few breakthroughs during the middle overs, the hosts maintained their momentum, successfully chasing the target with 11 balls remaining.
With a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, Bracewell expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance and encouraged them to keep their winning streak alive. "We have been playing some excellent cricket up to now, and we just want to keep up this momentum," he stated.
