T20 World Cup: Usman Tariq plays on Kiwi minds as Super Eight begins

The business end of the T20 World Cup gets going on Saturday with a Pakistan versus New Zealand clash in Colombo, but not without an underlying sense of irony. Pakistan, once known as a breeding ground for pace aces, will be banking on a four-pronged spin attack at the Premadasa Stadium, one which has been yielding dividends for them in a patchy campaign so far.

While Pakistan were subjected to a 61-run defeat to India in their only loss in the four group matches, their spinners did a commendable job right through. A fact which was acknowledged by New Zealand’s Mark Chapman ahead of the game on Friday: ‘’Usman Tariq has a pretty unique action with the way that he stops at the crease, so I mean that’s something to factor in. But for us, Pakistan has a number of really good spinners in their side, so each of them poses their own threat.

‘’So Pakistan’s one of the teams that we have played probably most frequently over the last years. So we are well aware of what they’re going to bring. For us, it’s just about making sure we’re really clear in the way that we want to play as a team.’’

The Kiwi batters, meanwhile, yet to hit the top gear in the ICC showpiece except for openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen who have three fifties between them. However, their middle-order colleagues have not been able to back them up sufficiently as the likes of Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell have struggled for consistency.

Phillips and Ravindra have a fifty each but they don’t have anything much to show, with the latter having cobbled together only 72 runs, but 59 of them came in a single match against Canada. The fact that they will be playing in Colombo for the first time in this tournament makes the challenge tougher for them.

Pakistan, in contrast, have been stationed in the port city since the beginning of the World Cup and have already played two matches at the Premadasa. Their bowlers, spinners in particular, know the pace and length required to be effective on this sluggish pitch where shot-making needs more prudence than bravado.

The spin quintet of Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan gives Pakistan a distinct edge, but they too have their worries in batting. Shadab Khan (88) is their highest run-getter after Sahibzada Farhan (220), the tournament’s current top run-maker.

Pakistan batters will need to make a bigger collective contribution against a professional outfit like New Zealand. The form of former captain Babar Azam (66 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 115.78) has been almost an embarrassment as he is struggling to come to terms with the demands of modern T20 batting.

If Babar stumbles one more time, the Pakistan management might bring in someone like experienced Fakhar Zaman, who warmed the benches throughout the group stage.

Catch the match

T20 World Cup Super Eight, 21 February

Pakistan vs New Zealand

Venue: Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Start: 7 pm IST