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Chandigarh: New Zealand sealed their place in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 as Martin Guptill's brilliant 80 helped them to a 22-run win over Pakistan in Mohali on Tuesday.
Guptill's total, scored off 48 balls, was the driving force behind the Black Caps' 180-5 on a good Mohali wicket.
Sharjeel Khan's rapid 47 gave Pakistan hope but they were unable to maintain their momentum and ended on 158-5.
New Zealand top Group B with three wins from three, but Pakistan's chances of progressing depend on other results.
Sharjeel Khan started the Pakistan chase in electric fashion with a simple plan; to go after everything in the powerplay.
That is exactly what he did and on a surface that was conducive for shot making, he made light of the New Zealand bowlers early on with a little bit of luck once or twice. He was removed from the equation by Adam Milne in the final over of the powerplay for a 25-ball 47.
Khalid Latif, at No. 3, was removed by the canny left arm spinner Mitchell Santner for a painful 7-ball 3.
Ahmed Shehzad had a fairly good start but with the softened ball was not optimal. He got out for a 32-ball 30 by Santner.
Santner could have had another wicket in Shahid Afridi if Luke Ronchi took the catch of an edge. Afridi had not found his groove by that point, but started cashing in on the mistake immediately after.
He raced to a 9-ball 19 and gave New Zealand another scare, but Ish Sodhi, had him dismissed at the wide long off boundary, credits also to a well timed jumping catch by Corey Anderson there.
The New Zealand fast bowlers kept it tight and Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik were unable to keep up with the required rate which jumped to almost 14 in the final three overs.
Earlier, Martin Guptill exposed the collective fallacy of all the Indian IPL franchisees that snubbed him in the auction earlier this year, with a sublime knock of 80 from 48 balls as he led New Zealand to the imposing total of 180 for 5 in 20 overs.
The pitch was not particularly conducive to the bowlers, but Guptill made it look easier than it was. In the powerplay he played the signature shots with the long extension of arms for sixes ranging from long on to long off. It was a sheer delight to watch. He showed the penchant and aptitude to adapt his shot selections as phases of the innings demanded.
Guptill was not perturbed by the apparent struggles of Kane Williamson, his opening partner, who managed to score just 17 off 21 balls. Williamson, though, played an important role of rotating strike and maximising Guptill’s form in the powerplay. Guptill was equally comfortable against all types of bowlers.
However, Ronchi bore the brunt of the pressure Taylor brought upon New Zealand. He became Sami’s second scalp when he tried to sweetly time a lower full toss over point, but failed to get the elevation to clear Shaoib Malik there.
Taylor managed to score a few runs in the final over off Amir, including a six and a four. He undid the damage he created earlier and finished with a respectable score of 36 from 23 balls.
Brief scores
New Zealand - 180 for 5 (Guptill 80, Taylor 36*)
Pakistan - 158 for 5 (Sharjeel Khan 47, Ahmed Shehzad 30)
Result - New Zealand won by 22 runs
Points - New Zealand 2, Pakistan 0
MOM - Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
