Match Recap: Pakistan vs New Zealand, 5th T20
Pakistan vs New Zealand Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usama Mir help Pakistan draw a series against New Zealand.
Pakistan vs New Zealand Match Highlights:
Toss: New Zealand won the toss and bowled first.
Saim Ayub’s early dismissal shunted Babar into a position of even greater prominence in this powerplay.
Babar Azam and Usman Khan attacked New Zealand bowlers. Babar’s fearless play helped Pakistan score 51 runs in powerplay. Babar and Usman carry innings, but Usman is dismissed by Ish Sodhi.
But then Fakhar Zaman comes to New Zealand. Babar and Fakhar 42’s partnership ends with Ben Sears, who gets Babar Azam.
New Zealand’s frustration was intensified as Fakhar was up for a big finish. Shadab combined in as well as helping Pakistan score 178/5, the third consecutive time that has been the first inning total in this series.
But New Zealand were looking like they would make short work of the chase contempt.
The early loss of Tom Blundell, but Tim Seifert, who finished the match for Pakistan, but Pakistan’s bowlers hit back hard in the second half of that chase.
Shaheen Shah Afridi and vital middle-overs attacks from Usama Mir momentous a chase that had looked on course until the eight-over mark.
Josh Clarkson saved New Zealand’s curiosity alive right till the death, but he would run out of partners with a pair of frantic final-over run-outs as Pakistan enclosed through in a tight contest.
Key Performance:
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Man of the Match): Match-saving bowling from Shaheen in the match with the figures of 4/30 in 4 overs.
Babar Azam: The man of his class plays fearless knocks and scores 69 runs in 44 balls.
Tim Seifert: He’s blasting knocks that go in vain, scoring 52 runs in 33 balls.
Conclusion:
Both teams played exciting cricket in the series, with the young New Zealand team impressing themselves with a good performance from their series. Pakistan also shows its intent. This is good for both teams as they prepare for the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan vs New Zealand Result from the series.
1st T20 match was washed by rain.
2nd T20 match: Pakistan won by 7 wickets.
3rd T20 match: New Zealand won by 7 wickets.
4th T20 match: New Zealand won by 4 runs.
5th T20 match: Pakistan won by 11 runs.
The series ends with a draw 2-2.
Man of the Series is grabbed by Shaheen Shah Afridi with his extraordinary bowling, taking eight wickets in the series.
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