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Friday 43 Sports Friday, January 26, 2018 Pakistan finally overcome Black Caps with T20 win Pakistan crush New Zealand by 48 runs AUCKLAND: Pakistan crushed New Zealand of Eden Park’s short boundaries to comfort- by 48 runs in the second T20 in Auckland yes- ably dispatch anything short or wide for four. terday to notch their first victory of the tour They punished pacemen Ben Wheeler and over the Black Caps. The tourists finally found Seth Rance, who both conceded 13 runs in an form with both bat and ball to level the three- over, prompting New Zealand to introduce match T20 series after a humiliating losing spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner. streak that included a 5-0 ODI series white- Fakhar responded by belting three sixes off wash. They set an imposing target of 202 after Santner’s first over, bringing up his maiden winning the toss and T20 half century soon electing to bat, with half after off 26 balls. centuries for Babar Rance finally broke Azam and Fakhar through in the ninth Zaman. New Zealand’s over, deceiving Ahmed In response, New top order with a slower ball that Zealand’s top order carried straight to Colin crumbled to 64 for six crumble to 64 de Grandhomme on the under a combination of boundary. Fakhar fell in tight bowling and com- the next over but Sar- mitment in the field fraz Ahmed and Babar AUCKLAND: Pakistan’s Hasan Ali celebrates the wicket of New Zealand’s Ben Wheeler during the second Twenty20 from Pakistan. “Pakistan were excellent tonight kept the scoreboard ticking over, taking Pak- international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday. —AFP in all departments and we weren’t that good in istan to 137 for two with five overs remaining. any department,” New Zealand captain Kane Sarfraz in particular displayed a confidence Williamson said. “When you catch them on a that had so far eluded him on tour to make 41 Faheem Ashraf ended with figures of three hopes faded when Shadab Khan took the prized great day, you get the result we got.” off 24 deliveries. Babar brought up his 50 and for 22 while Shadab Khan and Mohammad Amir scalp of Martin Guptill for 26, leaving the Black Openers Fakhar and Ahmed Shehzad laid took the team past 200 with a four off the each took two wickets. Colin Munro was Caps teetering at 52 for four and needing more the platform with a partnership of 94. Pak- final ball of the innings. Pakistan’s bowling at- trapped lbw for one then, captain Kane than 11 runs an over. Ben Wheeler and Mitchell istan’s previous best top-order partnership tack capitalized on the good work from their Williamson made a rare golden duck before Santner combined for a 54-run partnership but during the six limited-over matches played on batsmen by dislodging New Zealand’s top Tom Bruce was run out thanks to some sharp the early-innings damage meant the target was tour so far was just 14. The pair made the most order cheaply. fielding from Haris Sohail. The home team’s beyond them.—AFP Sri Lanka thrash Bangladesh; reach in as a replacement for Dirk Nannes in the 2011 edition and has Starc, Gayle and since become one of the most powerful IPL performers. tri-nation final Mitchell Starc (Australia) new Tendulkar; The fastest bowler in Test cricket has already put his searing DHAKA: Suranga Lakmal led Sri Lankan bowlers on a confidence-boost- deliveries to good use in the IPL, even though the pitches nor- ing rampage to skittle out Bangladesh for 82 yesterday and guide his side mally favour slow bowlers and batsmen. Starc made his pres- into the final of the Dhaka tri-nation tournament. Openers Upul Tharanga five to watch ence felt in 2014 and 2015 with Royal Challengers Bangalore, (39) and Danushka Gunathilaka (35) sped to the target 83 in just 11.5 overs NEW DELHI: Many of the world’s top cricketers will be sold Starc missed 2016 through injury and then decided not to come to seal the win for the islanders. “This is what we’re capable of,” said Sri to the highest bidder when the Indian Premier League holds its to India last year. Starc will challenge Steve Smith and David Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal as he celebrated the emphatic 10- annual auction tomorrow and Sunday. Here are five players who Warner-who were retained by their teams for $1.9 m each-to wicket win that left Zimbabwe in third place in the series and ensured Sri can expect to hit it rich when the eight teams in the Twenty20 become Australia’s highest-paid IPL player. Lanka another match against Bangladesh in Saturday’s final. Sri Lanka tournament place their bids in Bangalore: had to win to remain in the competition and, coming out of their worst Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) year in international cricket, completed the task in style. Ben Stokes (England) Afghanistan’s rise as a cricketing nation has been synonymous Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss and opted to bat Rising Pune Supergiant bought the troubled England all- with the success of sensational leg-spinner Rashid Khan. The but soon regretted his move. Mushfiqur Rahim made 26 but Sabbir Rah- rounder last year for a record $2.16 million. Stokes now faces a teenager became an overnight star in his war-ravaged country man was the only other batsman to reach double figures, with just 10 runs. looming court case over a brawl in England, but IPL sides are last year when was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for $625,000. Lakmal picked up his three wickets-openers Tamim Iqbal and Anamul still keen to sign the star who played a key role as Pune finished Khan justified the price by taking 17 wickets in 14 matches at an Haque, and number five Mahmudullah-for just 21 runs and knocked out runners-up in 2017. The 26-year-old paceman and left-hand impressive economy rate of 6.6 per over. Khan, who was named the upper order. Thisara Perera, Dushmantha Chameera and Lakshan batsman is in the top bracket, with a base price of $312,500. “He associate nation player of the year by the International Cricket Sandakan each claimed two wickets. Bangladesh, who had secured em- is an invaluable asset and a prize pick, there is no debate about Council, could be headed for another big pay day in a year when phatic wins in their past three games, were all out for 82 in 24 overs and that,” Delhi Daredevils chief executive Hemant Dua told AFP. Afghanistan are slated to play their first-ever Test-against India clearly stunned. Gunathilaka, with three sixes and two fours, and Tharanga in Bangalore in June, just after the IPL finishes. romped to victory without the loss of a wicket against Bangladesh’s lack- Chris Gayle (West Indies) lustre bowlers. Chandimal highlighted Sri Lanka’s planning for this game. A top choice for any T20 team around the world, Chris Gayle Prithvi Shaw (India) “We wanted to attack them,” said the captain. “We can control when is again expected to be at the centre of a bidding war among Crowded among India’s big stars, under-19 national captain we’re fielding. Especially Suranga bowled really well at the start. Upul IPL franchises. The explosive West Indies opener was not re- Prithvi Shaw could be the bargain pick of the auction. Put in the uncapped player category with a starting price of $3,125, the and Danushka finished it really well.” Bangladesh skipper Mortaza ad- tained by Royal Challengers Bangalore for the new season, giv- prolific batsman from Mumbai is being compared to the leg- mitted his side had suffered a wake-up call. “Good thing that our middle ing other teams a chance to bag him. The left-hander, who has endary Sachin Tendulkar. “Prithvi Shaw has only just turned 18, order has been exposed,” he said. scored tons in almost every T20 league across the world, leads but already has more cricket experience than many aspiring “Hopefully they’ll find out their mistakes.” Mortaza said he could not a West Indies contingent also featuring Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard. The self-proclaimed ‘Universe Boss’ was brought young players will have in their whole career,” said a recent ICC blame the wicket and that Bangladesh should have scored at least 180- tweet. —AFP 200. “Hopefully the boys will deliver in the final,” he said. —AFP .