An amusing event involving all-rounder Shadab Khan and the young spectators at the boundary line occurred during the game. In the second Twenty20 International of the five-match series, New Zealand easily defeated Pakistan by five wickets, defeating them once more.
On the third delivery of the second over, Finn Allen hit a six off Mohammad Ali’s bowling during New Zealand’s chase. Shadab Khan was positioned at the long-off boundary, where the ball crossed. Some young spectators by the fence asked him if they could hold the ball while he was collecting it. It appeared as though Shadab would pass the ball to them as he brought it close to them. But as they extended their hand, he amusingly withdrew it, grinned, and tossed it back onto the playing field.
Shadab Khan is ruthlessly crushing the hopes of young kids in Dunedin!
😥😥 pic.twitter.com/wPpM30NsOC— CricZebra (@criczebra) March 18, 2025
Shadab Khan dismissed Daryl Mitchell with a leaping catch.
In the meantime, the Kiwis took a 2-0 lead in the current series after winning by five wickets. Rain forced the Dunedin match to be cut short to 15 overs per side, and the visitors scored 135 runs. Notably, Shadab’s fielding attempts garnered media attention. He dismissed Daryl Mitchell off Haris Rauf’s bowling with a spectacular diving catch at cover on the fifth delivery of the 13th over. The Pakistani all-rounder dived full length to his right and collected the ball with both hands after the batter tried a back-foot punch.
The Men in Green were selected to bat first in the game, and they got off to a rough start when Hasan Nawaz was removed for a second straight duck. Their problems were further by the ejection of Muhammad Haris, as the scorecard showed 19/2. Shadab added 26 off 14 balls, but Salman Agha’s 46 off 28 balls was Pakistan’s sole significant knock. Nonetheless, the opposition was held to a manageable total by the Kiwi bowlers.
Tim Seifert (45 off 22) and Finn Allen (38 off 16) opened the chase with a stunning 66-run partnership in reply. Mitchell Hay (21*) and captain Michael Bracewell helped the BlackCaps complete the mark with 11 balls remaining, despite the tourists’ attempts to rally with wickets from Mohammad Ali, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, and Haris Rauf.
India
