Istafa Ali
In the third third T20I of the series, which was played on Monday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by four runs.
Iftikhar Ahmed, a middle-order batsman, put in a heroic effort, scoring 60 runs in only 24 balls, but Pakistan was unable to reach the 164-run mark and was bowled out for 159 on the penultimate delivery of the game.
With three wickets, James Neesham led all bowlers for New Zealand, while Rachin Ravindra and Adam Milne both took two. Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, was only able to score one run off six balls, after having scored a century in the previous game.
Tom Latham, the captain, had earlier scored a well-made fifty, hitting 64 runs in 49 balls with the aid of seven fours and two sixes, for a total of 163-5 in his 20 overs. With 33 runs off 26 balls, Daryl Mitchell also added to the scoring.
For Pakistan, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf both grabbed two wickets, while Shaheen Afridi took one.
After sweeping the first two games with remarkable ease, the home team now leads the series 2-1. Despite the defeat, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has been cleared by the team’s medical staff to participate in the third T20I after recuperating from a back injury he suffered in the previous match.
With Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi rejoining the team, New Zealand has made two changes to their lineup for the third T20 International. Zaman Khan has been given a break, and Naseem Shah has been appointed in his stead by Pakistan. The last two games of the T20I series will be played in Rawalpindi on April 20 and 24.
There have been many possibilities for newcomers to excel as a result of the eight Kiwi players’ absence owing to their participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In addition, Tom Latham, a batter, is now captain after Kane Williamson’s knee injury.
In order to prepare for this year’s 50-over World Cup in India, Pakistan and New Zealand will play five one-day internationals after the T20I series. New Zealand’s abandonment from their planned trip to Pakistan in September 2021 owing to security concerns is made up for by this tour. Just three months before, the Black Caps had participated in two tests and three ODIs in Pakistan.
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Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah are the players’ XI for Pakistan.
Tom Latham (c & wk), Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, and James Neesham are all New Zealand players. Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister, Rachin Ravindra
