Pakistan’s Tour of New Zealand (3rd T20)
New Zealand clinched a series win against Pakistan in their third T20 international out of five. Fin Allen’s brilliance with the bat proved too much for the Pakistani’s to handle on the day, helping to post New Zealand’s third consecutive 200 plus score in the series. Despite efforts from Pakistan to chase down the mammoth total, New Zealand’s outstanding bowling line up held down the Pakistani’s, winning the match by a whopping 45 runs. In a spectacular display of power-hitting, New Zealand posted yet another formidable 200 plus score against Pakistan, this time ending with 224 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. Finn Allen’s sensational knock of 137 runs not only became the highest individual score for New Zealand in T20Is but also equaled the record for the most sixes (16) in an innings in T20 internationals. Despite the efforts of Haris Rauf, who picked up two wickets, all other Pakistani bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught and fell victim to Allen at least once in the innings.
Chasing a massive target of over 200, Pakistan faced an uphill battle, with Babar Azam once again standing out. However, lacking support from the rest of the batting order, the challenge proved insurmountable. New Zealand, pumped by their imposing total, executed their bowling plans effectively. The bowlers maintained pressure by taking wickets at regular intervals, making it difficult for Pakistan to build partnerships. Ish Sodhi’s crucial dismissal of Babar Azam tilted the game in New Zealand’s favor, and Tim Southee, along with other bowlers, secured a comfortable win for the home side.
Pakistan’s batting woes continued, with Saim Ayub’s early dismissal and the failure of others to convert starts into substantial scores. Despite the efforts of Babar Azam, who registered his third consecutive fifty, Pakistan fell short by 45 runs. The victory handed New Zealand an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, showcasing their dominance. Finn Allen’s explosive century became the highlight of the match, setting the stage for a comprehensive win by the BlackCaps.
New Zealand – 224 for 7 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 137, Tim Seifert 31, Glenn Phillips 19, Haris Rauf 2 for 60, Mohammad Wasim Jr. 1 for 35, Zaman Khan 1 for 37)
Pakistan – 179 for 7 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 58, Mohammad Nawaz 28, Mohammad Rizwan 24, Tim Southee 2 for 29, Mitchell Santner 1 for 26, Lockie Ferguson 1 for 27)
