In third match of series of Five T20 matches, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 4 runs after a thrilling match.
Iftikhar Ahmed, who played an aggressive inning of 60 runs on 24 balls, got team locked out very close to victory and Pakistan failed to score 5 runs in the last 2 balls, so in pursuit of the Kiwis’ target of 164 runs, Shaheen was reduced to 159 runs, but the green team is in the series. Still leading 2-1.
In the match played at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat, but the start of the innings was disappointing and Chad Bowes was bowled after scoring 7 runs, after which Will Young also returned to the pavilion after scoring 17 runs. Daryl Mitchell also could not go beyond his individual total of 33 and became the victim of Shaheen Afridi.
We are set a target of 164 after @iShaheenAfridi and @HarisRauf14 lead the bowling effort 🎯#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/sDplFBF7Ye
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 17, 2023
However, thanks to the responsible innings of captain Tom Latham, the Kiwis scored 163 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Tom Latham scored 64 runs. Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf took two wickets each while Shadab Khan took one wicket.
🔊 The @IftiAhmed221 and @iFaheemAshraf show gets the Lahore crowd buzzing! 🙌#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/10bEF5p9oP
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 17, 2023
Chasing New Zealand’s target of 164 runs, the green shirts got off to a disappointing start and half the team were bowled out for 55 runs. Babar Azam scored 1, Mohammad Rizwan 6, Saeem Ayub 10, Fakhar Zaman 17 and Imad Wasim scored 3. gone.
🔙 to 🔙 maximums as @IftiAhmed221 flexes his power-hitting muscle 💪#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/n3SVa4jcjH
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 17, 2023
Shaheen Afridi was dismissed for 6 and Shadab Khan for 16 runs. In the 8th wicket partnership, Iftikhar and Faheem Ashraf played responsible innings, but Faheem Ashraf was caught out after scoring 27 runs.
A breathtaking masterclass from @IftiAhmed221 almost got Pakistan over the line as New Zealand prevail in the third T20I by 4️⃣ runs#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/Z0mp9NVHHq
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 17, 2023
Iftikhar Ahmed played brilliant innings of 60 runs off 24 balls with the help of 6 sixes and 3 fours. Pakistan needed 15 runs in the last over, then Iftikhar Ahmed hit a six and a four to bring the green shirts close to victory but then the over. He was caught out on the fourth ball, after which Haris Rauf also took a catch on the last ball and thus the Pakistan team was reduced to 159.
New Zealand’s Jimmy Neesham took three wickets, Adam Millan and Richan Ravindra took two wickets each while Matt Henry and Ash Sodhi took one wicket each. The Green Shirts lost by 4 runs, but the Greens have a 1-2 lead in the series.