The cricket world was abuzz on Monday as New Zealand secured a thrilling victory over Pakistan in the third T20I of the series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Despite a valiant effort by middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored 60 runs in just 24 balls, Pakistan fell short of their target of 164 runs and were bowled out for 159 on the final ball of the innings.
The match saw some standout performances by both teams, with James Neesham being the star performer among the bowlers, taking three wickets, while Rachin Ravindra and Adam Milne took two each. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who scored a century in the previous match, could only manage one run in six balls. Faheem Ashraf made a quickfire cameo of 27 runs in 14 balls, including two fours and two sixes.
Earlier in the match, New Zealand posted a total of 163-5 in their allotted 20 overs, with skipper Tom Latham contributing a crucial half-century. Latham scored 64 runs in 49 balls with seven fours and two sixes, while Daryl Mitchell added 33 runs in 26 balls. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf claimed two wickets each for Pakistan, with Shadab Khan taking one.
The series has been closely contested so far, with Pakistan leading 2-1 after winning the first two matches in a convincing manner. Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper, was deemed fit for the third T20I after recovering from his back injury.
New Zealand made two changes for the third T20I, with Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi returning to the side. Pakistan, on the other hand, rested Zaman Khan and brought in Naseem Shah as his replacement. The remaining two matches of the T20I series will be held on April 20 and 24 in Rawalpindi.
One interesting aspect of this tour has been the absence of eight Kiwis due to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the injury of skipper Kane Williamson. This has provided an opportunity for newcomers to shine, with Tom Latham stepping up as captain.
New Zealand’s James Neesham was the standout performer among the bowlers, taking three wickets, while Rachin Ravindra and Adam Milne took two each. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who scored a century in the previous match, could only manage one run in six balls. Faheem Ashraf made a quickfire cameo of 27 runs in 14 balls, including two fours and two sixes. Earlier in the match, New Zealand posted a total of 163-5 in their allotted 20 overs, with skipper Tom Latham contributing a crucial half-century. Latham scored 64 runs in 49 balls with seven fours and two sixes, while Daryl Mitchell added 33 runs in 26 balls. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf claimed two wickets each for Pakistan, with Shadab Khan taking one.
Both teams have displayed their strengths and weaknesses in this series so far, and it will be interesting to see how they fare in the remaining matches. With the World Cup looming, both sides will be eager to fine-tune their strategies and build momentum heading into the tournament.
After the T20 series, Pakistan and New Zealand will play five one-day internationals, preparing for the upcoming 50-over World Cup in India. The tour provides some compensation for New Zealand’s withdrawal from their visit to Pakistan in September 2021 due to security concerns. However, the Black Caps played two Tests and three ODIs in Pakistan just three months ago.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c & wk), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham. Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister
In conclusion, New Zealand’s close victory over Pakistan in Lahore has set the stage for an exciting finish to the T20I series. With both teams fighting hard and showcasing their skills, cricket fans around the world are in for a treat.
