At the Qaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan leveled the five-match T20I series 2-2 with a narrow nine-run victory over New Zealand in the last match.
The match, which went down to the wire, saw Pakistan successfully defending their total, thanks in large part to a spectacular bowling performance led by Shaheen Afridi.
Pakistan, after being sent in to bat by New Zealand who won the toss, set a competitive target of 178 runs, finishing their innings at 178/5. The innings was anchored by a masterful 69 from captain Babar Azam, who faced just 44 balls. His innings included eight boundaries and two sixes, demonstrating a sublime mix of aggression and control. Fakhar Zaman also made a significant contribution with a well-paced 43 off 33 balls, while Usman Khan added a quickfire 31 from 24 balls to propel Pakistan to a challenging score.
New Zealand’s bowlers struggled to contain Pakistan’s batters, though James Neesham, Will O’Rourke, and Ish Sodhi managed to claim a wicket each. However, they were unable to prevent the Pakistani batters from maintaining a healthy run rate throughout their innings.
In response, New Zealand started their chase on a strong note but could not keep up with the required run rate towards the end of their innings, ultimately being bowled out for 169 in 19.2 overs. Tim Seifert was the top scorer for the visitors, crafting a quick 52 off 33 balls. Josh Clarkson played a crucial unbeaten knock of 38 runs from 26 balls, but his efforts were not enough to take his team over the line. Michael Bracewell’s 23 from 21 balls also added some momentum, but Pakistan’s bowlers tightened their grip in the closing stages.
Shaheen Afridi was the standout performer with the ball for Pakistan. He delivered a lethal spell, claiming 4 wickets for 30 runs in his four overs, disrupting the New Zealand batting lineup with his pace and precision. Usama Mir supported well by taking two crucial wickets for just 21 runs, and Imad Wasim was exceptionally economical, giving away only five runs in his solitary over while taking one wicket.
The match ended with Afridi dismissing the final New Zealand batsman, sealing the victory for Pakistan and earning himself the Player of the Match award. His consistent performance throughout the series also earned him the Player of the Series accolade, further establishing his reputation as one of the leading fast bowlers in international cricket.
The series draw is a significant result for Pakistan, showing resilience and capability in bouncing back after being down earlier in the series. It also marks a continued evolution in their approach to the T20 format, with significant contributions coming from both senior players and newer additions to the squad. For New Zealand, the series has been a challenging but valuable exposure, particularly for their younger players in handling high-pressure situations against a top-ranked T20 side.
As both teams look forward to their next engagements, the experiences and takeaways from this series are likely to influence their strategies and team compositions in the upcoming international fixtures.
