In a thrilling encounter at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, New Zealand emerged victorious over Pakistan by a narrow margin of four runs, securing a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Pakistan’s top order, including captain Babar Azam, struggled to provide a solid start, increasing pressure on the team. However, Fakhar Zaman’s valiant innings of 61 runs off 45 balls provided some hope, yet it was not enough as other players failed to deliver.
New Zealand set a challenging target of 179 runs after being put to bat first by the hosts. Tim Robinson and Tom Blundells laid a strong foundation with a solid opening partnership, contributing 51 and 28 runs, respectively. Despite Blundells’ dismissal by Zaman Khan, Dean Foxcroft continued the momentum with a quickfire 34 off 26 balls.
Although the Kiwis lost a couple of middle-order wickets in quick succession, James Neesham and Michael Bracewell attempted to stabilize the innings with a partnership. However, Abbas Afridi’s breakthrough, dismissing Bracewell for 27, halted their progress.
Afridi was the standout bowler for Pakistan, claiming three crucial wickets, supported by Zaman Khan, Usama Mir, and Iftikhar Ahmed, who took one wicket each.
In a press conference following the match, skipper Babar Azam expressed optimism about the series despite the defeat. With changes expected in the lineup, including the inclusion of Fakhar Zaman and Imad Wasim, Pakistan aims to bounce back in the upcoming matches.
On the other hand, New Zealand is likely to stick with the same squad that secured victory in the previous match, maintaining their winning combination for the remainder of the series.
