Pakistan reach top ICC Rankings after incredible win

6 IN A ROW!!!!! Pakistan has officially reached the summit of the ICC T20 Rankings as they claim a fantastic series win over New Zealand.

In all honesty, I could not have seen Pakistan winning a game after what was an embarrassing 5-0 series whitewash in the ODIs. But what I did see was a team that had a revived spirit, a plan and motivation to show the world why they are still one of the best teams going around today.

There is no doubt that it only took one win for Pakistan to give them the confidence to gain some momentum. Pakistan's win in Aukland certainly highlighted the quality of the Pakistan team and what they were not demonstrating in the ODIs. Even in my series preview I strongly emphasised that Pakistan certainly had a team that could certainly challenge New Zealand in their fortress homeland. However, what was witnessed in the ODIs was a unit that was scared, unsure, undisciplined and had no purpose.

However, from comments like "the players are immensely tired" are mere excuses for what was an outrageous ODI series for a team that recently won an ICC event (Champions Trophy). These comments I believe were rubbish in that Pakistan's performance in the 2nd T20 did not look like a side that was tired, but more like a team that was hungry and motivated.

An embarrassing display of batting in the first T20 quickly reversed on New Zealand as Pakistan hammered the Kiwi attack to all parts of Aukland to post 201in the 2nd T20. An incredible performance by all of Pakistan's top order batsmen ultimately laying the foundation for Pakistan to allow their bowlers to attack.

One major issue that I felt that New Zealand had with their side was the batting order. Players such as Anaru Kitchen and Tom Blundell were completely out of their domestic batting orders, which only disrupts the mindset of the side and the players who have been shifted from their adopted roles.

But the story of the T20 series and almost the whole tour was the way that Pakistan fought back to restore their pride as a nation after what was an incredibly dissapointing ODI series. Whilst the 2nd ODI was a complete performance, the 3rd ODI, however, was a testimony to the quality of the Pakistan side. In particular, it was a major highlight of the bowling strength and depth that Pakistan possesses.

When watching the game and the classy start that Pakistan had in the first 6 overs of the match, I felt that 181 was a below par score and that it could be chased fairly comfortably given New Zealand keep their wickets in hand. But it was very good to see Fakhar Zaman (46) continue his form throughout the tour Sarfaraz Ahmed (29), Haris Sohail (20*) and Umar Amin (21) keep the scoreboard ticking and accelerating at the right times. However, with some absolute class bowling from Mohammad Amir (1/23) and Shadab Khan (2/19) New Zealand never really looked to get away from the tourists.

The primary difference between the two sides has been the bowling. New Zealand for the last two fixtures have bowled far too full and have not been able to halt the flow of runs. But in all fairness to Pakistan, they have outclassed this very good New Zealand side and have demonstrated why they are a quality side.

Without the experience of Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and the record of Imad Wasim, I strongly felt that Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir certainly came to the party and took leadership over a team that was so badly beaten in the ODIs.

Overall, it was an immensely exciting series that saw Babar Azam rise to the number T20 batsmen in the world and Pakistan also going to number 1. 6 straight series wins for Pakistan has seen them go from strength to strength, but with an extended break before the next international series, the Pakistan Super League is set to start off with a bang.

With an excellent series now over and the tour also concluded, New Zealand has certainly come out on top in the ODIs and Pakistan demonstrating their dominance in the shortest format. The hosts will now travel across the Tasman in a tri-series tournament against England and Australia, which I think they will have plenty of success considering the inform side that they are in.

Congratulations to New Zealand for an amazing triumph against a very dangerous Pakistan side in the ODIs. But also to Pakistan for the fight that they showed in being 6-0 down in the tour to come back and win the series was an amazingly inspiring effort.

As I normally do, I always rate each player in the series based on their performances in their game appearances.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM 

Martin Guptill:  6/10
Colin Munro: 6/10
Kane Williamson: 3/10
Anaru Kitchen: 6/10
Glen Phillips: 6/10
Tom Blundell: 4/10
Ross Taylor: 8/10
Tom Bruce: 3/10
Colin de Grondhomme: 3/10
Mitchell Santner: 7/10
Tim Southee: 7/10
Trent Boult: 7/10
Ish Sodhi: 8.5/10
Ben Wheeler: 5/10
Seth Rance: 4.5/10

PAKISTAN TEAM

Fakhar Zaman:  8.5/10
Ahmed Shezhad:  8/10
Babar Azam: 9/10
Sarfaraz Ahmed: 7.5/10
Haris Sohail: 8/10
Umar Amin: 6/10
Fahim Ashraf: 6/10
Shadab Khan: 8.5/10
Amir Yamin: 7/10
Mohammad Amir: 8/10
Hasan Ali: 5/10
Ruman Raees: 6/10
Mohammad Nawaz: 3/10

And to finally conclude I always like to finish off with the team of the series in which I think would best represent the series that has taken place.

PAKISTAN/NEW ZEALAND T20 SERIES XI: Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan), Martin Guptill (New Zealand), Babar Azam (Pakistan), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Pakistan) (c) (wk), Haris Sohail (Pakistan), Mitchell Santner (New Zealand), Shadab Khan (Pakistan), Tim Southee (New Zealand) , Mohammad Amir (Pakistan), Ish Sodhi (New Zealand), Fahim Ashraf (Pakistan) (12th man)