CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Former Pakistan player Sikander Bakht has slammed Mohammad Rizwan for playing a selfish knock in the fourth T20I against New Zealand. Rizwan scored an unbeaten 90 runs off 63 balls, laced with 6 fours and 2 sixes. However, the Men in Green poster just 158/5 in 20 overs.
New Zealand overcame early setbacks to win the match by 7 wickets to go 4-0 up in the five-match T20I series.
Rizwan lost his opening partner Saim Ayub (1) in the second over, then put on 51 for the second wicket with Babar Azam who was out for 19 after making half centuries in each of the previous three matches in the serious.
Pakistan struggled to find the long boundaries at Hagley Oval and was 51-1 at the end of the power play. New Zealand bowled expertly to a well-set field and Pakistan’s boundary chances often dried up.
Pakistan didn’t hit a single boundary between the sixth and 13th over. Against accurate bowling, the tourists often were left to rotate the strike by working the ball into the few gaps in the field or to deep-set fielders.
After 10 overs Pakistan was 71-2, which contained only five fours and two sixes. Rizwan’s half century came from 38 balls an included three fours and one six.
Pakistan’s hundred came up in the 16th over and there were only six overs in the innings from which 10 or more runs were scored.
The most expensive was the 19th from which Mohammad Nawaz hit three consecutive sixes from the bowling of Adam Milne.
Sikander highlighted Rizwan’s slow batting. “He played 63 balls for his 90 runs. Finn Allen scored 137 runs in 62 balls in the previous game. Pakistan batters will have to bat like him to win matches,” he said.
“I know Rizwan will not like it but he is selfish player. He played a selfish knock. In the last over of Pakistan’s innings, he faced 4 balls and scored just 4 runs. There was no intention to hit fours and sixes from him,” he added.