East London, In a commanding display of cricket, Pakistan overwhelmed New Zealand in East London with a 10-wicket triumph. This impressive win was highlighted by Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Ubaid Shah’s remarkable new-ball spell, and a robust batting performance that led them to victory in just 25.2 overs.

According to International Cricket Council, Pakistan’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Ubaid Shah, was in fine form. Ubaid, the younger brother of Pakistan senior team star Naseem, was instrumental in dismantling New Zealand’s top order. He dismissed Luke Watson for a duck and subsequently sent Tom Jones and Snehith Reddy back to the pavilion, leaving New Zealand reeling.

Oliver Tewatiya and Oscar Jackson initiated a rebuilding phase for New Zealand, but Pakistan’s Mohammad Zeeshan and Naveed Khan broke through their defenses, bringing New Zealand’s brief resurgence to a halt. The tail-enders struggled against Arafat Minhas’s left-arm spin, and New Zealand ultimately collapsed from 117/4 to 140 all out.

Pakistan’s response with the bat was equally formidable. Openers Shahzaib Khan and Shamyl Hussain launched an aggressive counterattack, amassing 54 runs in the first Powerplay. Their partnership flourished, and they easily chased down the target in less than 26 overs. Shamyl Hussain remained not out on 54 off 66 balls, while Shahzaib Khan, who was named Player of the Match, scored an unbeaten 80 off 86 balls.

This victory ensured that Pakistan finished the group stage unbeaten, advancing to the Super Six stage with high confidence. New Zealand and Nepal also qualified from Group D, while Afghanistan, after their loss to Nepal, failed to advance.

Pakistan skipper Saad Baig lauded Ubaid Shah and the openers for their pivotal roles in the game. He commended the bowlers for their impressive performance and appreciated the openers for their intense batting.