Toss New Zealand chose to bat v Pakistan
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Mohammad Hafeez is nursing an injury to his right femur and was ruled out of today’s game © AFP
On a ‘good wicket,’ Kane Williamson decided to put runs on the board in a bid to make the semi-final of the World T20. Mohali had a sprinkling of grass, but the common perception was that its presence was to help the ball come onto the bat quicker.
New Zealand went in with an unchanged team, which meant their pace spearheads Tim Southee and Trent Boult have accrued a hat-trick of matches on the bench at this World T20.
Pakistan, who need a win lest they end up having to depend on other results going their way for their progress in the tournament, were beset by injuries. A bone contusion on his right femur ruled Mohammad Hafeez out of the match, while Wahab Riaz, who was stuck just above the ear by a throw at practice was “rested,” according to captain Shahid Afridi.
In their stead come 30-year old batsman Khalid Latif, who has 96 T20 matches, including seven T20Is to back him, but he last played for Pakistan in June 2012. The other vacancy was filled by left-arm spinning allrounder Imad Wasim.
New Zealand 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Kane Williamson (capt), 3 Colin Munro, 4 Corey Anderson, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Grant Elliot, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Adam Milne
Pakistan 1 Sharjeel Khan, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Khalid Latif, 4 Umar Akmal, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Mohammad Irfan, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Mohammad Amir
Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo