Maqsood guides Pakistan to victory

Sohaib Maqsood held his nerve in the closing stages to give Pakistan a six-wicket warm-up win over New Zealand ahead of the World Twenty20.

Only Brendon McCullum, with 59 from 40 deliveries, had seriously troubled the Pakistan bowlers as the Black Caps set a total of 145 for nine – Umar Gul finishing with 3-16.

Pakistan appeared to be cruising to victory as half-centuries from Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez left them needing 25 from the last five overs, at which stage Kamran retired out.

Sohaib Maqsood struck Corey Anderson for consecutive boundaries to secure victory for Pakistan in their World Twenty20 warm-up match against New Zealand

Hafeez then fell to Nathan McCullum at the end of the 16th over, and five runs were still needed off the last three balls after some tight bowling. But Maqsood thrashed Corey Anderson to the cover boundary and pulled the next ball to the midwicket fence to settle the contest, finishing unbeaten on 16.

In the day’s other warm-up match, also in Dhaka, Sri Lanka beat India by five runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin took 3-22 to restrict Sri Lanka, for whom Mahela Jayawardene top-scored with 30, to 153 for six.

Suresh Raina’s 41 helped India take their chase to the final over, but Lasith Malinga held his nerve as three wickets fell in the last four balls.

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