Pakistan beat New Zealand by 6 wickets in ICC World Twenty20 Cup match

Former champions Pakistan made good practice ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 campaign against arch-rival India on Friday, beating New Zealand by six wickets in the first warm-up match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur Monday. Replying to New Zealand total 145 runs, Pakistan, riding on a solid 2nd wicket partnership between Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez, reached their target scoring 149 for 4 in the penultimate ball of the match. After the dismissal of opener Sharjeel Khan (12) for 38 runs in 4.3 overs, another opener Kamran Akmal pairing with one down Mohammad Hafeez contributed 83 runs in 10.3 overs in the 2nd wicket stand to carry the team total to 112 for 2 in 15 overs. Kamran Akmal contributed 52 runs off 45 balls with six fours and two sixes before he retired hurt while Hafeez made 39-ball 55 runs with three fours and five sixes before caught by Anderson off a Nathan McCullum delivery. Sohaib Maqsood was the other Pakistani batsman who reached double figures with unbeaten 16 runs off eight balls that included three fours. Off break bowler Nathan McCullum grabbed two wickets for 21 runs while spinner Ronnie Hira took one wicket for 29 runs. Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, New Zealand posted 145 for 9 in 20 overs with skipper Brendon McCullum making 59 runs off 45 balls that featured three fours and four sixes. Number five Colin Munro made 20 runs off 15 balls with one four and two sixes while opener Martin Guptill scored 11 runs off 10 balls with a six. Umar Gul captured three wickets for 16 runs, Mohammad Talha grabbed two wickets for 22 runs while Bilawal Bhatti, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar and Sohail Tanvir took one wicket each for 15, 18, 26 and 43 runs respectively.