Pakistan emerged victorious with a 42-run triumph over New Zealand in the climactic encounter of the five-match T20I series, courtesy of an outstanding bowling performance by Iftikhar Ahmed.
The high-stakes clash unfolded at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, where Pakistan, led by Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, won the toss and elected to bat first.
The early moments of the innings saw Tim Southee striking in the very first over to dismiss debutant Haseebullah for a duck. However, the seasoned duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam took charge, stitching together a crucial 53-run partnership for the second wicket. The stability they provided after the initial setback laid the foundation for Pakistan’s innings.
Ish Sodhi, though, intervened in the 10th over, breaking the partnership by dismissing Babar Azam for 13 runs. Fakhar Zaman injected momentum into the innings with a brisk 33 off 16 deliveries, including a boundary and four sixes.
However, Southee struck again, removing Zaman, and the subsequent dismissals of Mohammad Nawaz and Rizwan left Pakistan at 114-7 in 18.2 overs.
Sahibzada Farhan and Abbas Afridi added valuable runs in the final overs, propelling Pakistan to a total of 134-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Southee, Ferguson, Sodhi, and Henry shared the bowling honors, each claiming two wickets, as New Zealand successfully restricted the visitors.
Defending a modest total, Pakistan got off to a flying start with Mohammad Nawaz dismissing Rachin Ravindra for just one run in the second over. Momentum continued to swing in Pakistan’s favor as Finn Allen, caught by Haseebullah off Zaman Khan’s bowling, departed for 22 runs.
Iftikhar Ahmed’s all-around brilliance came to the forefront as he not only contributed with the bat but also showcased his bowling prowess. He took crucial wickets, including the dismissals of Will Young, Mark Chapman, Ish Sodhi, and Matt Henry, putting New Zealand on the back foot at 54-4 in the 11th over.
The situation worsened for the home side as Tim Seifert and Mitchell Santner fell victim to Iftikhar Ahmed and leg-spinner Usama Mir, respectively. Glenn Phillips fought valiantly, scoring 26 runs, but Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi cleaned up the tail, ensuring New Zealand was bowled out for a mere 92 runs in 17.2 overs.
Iftikhar Ahmed’s standout performance, clinching three wickets for 24 runs in his four overs, earned him the well-deserved title of Player of the Match. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz complemented the bowling attack with two wickets each, while Zaman Khan and Usama Mir chipped in with a wicket apiece.
The resounding victory not only salvaged pride for Pakistan but also prevented a series whitewash, showcasing the team’s resilience in adverse conditions.
As the series concluded, Pakistan celebrated a memorable win, underscoring the team’s collective effort and individual brilliance, particularly Iftikhar Ahmed’s exceptional all-round performance.
