In a nail-biting encounter at Lahore's historic Gaddafi Stadium, New Zealand emerged victorious against Pakistan in the fourth T20 International, securing a pulsating four-run win and taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Pakistan's decision seemed to pay dividends initially as they restricted New Zealand to a total of 178/7.
However, the visitors' determined batting performance, led by opener Tim Robinson's fiery 51 and valuable contributions from Tom Blundell (28) and Michael Bracewell (27), propelled them to a competitive total.
Pakistan's chase got off to a shaky start with captain Babar Azam departing early, scoring just 5 runs. Despite efforts from young batters Saim Ayub (20) and Usman Khan (16), the hosts found themselves struggling to keep up with the required run rate.
Fakhar Zaman's resilient knock of 61 off 45 balls provided hope for Pakistan, but crucial wickets at key moments dented their pursuit. Despite late resistance from all-rounder Imad Wasim (22*), Pakistan fell agonizingly short of the target, finishing at 174/8.
William O’Rourke emerged as the pick of the bowlers for the Black Caps, claiming three vital wickets for 27 runs, while Ben Sears contributed with two wickets for the same number of runs.
New Zealand's innings
Earlier, New Zealand's aggressive start set the tone for their innings, with openers Robinson and Blundell laying a solid foundation. However, Pakistan's bowlers fought back admirably in the middle overs, with Abbas Afridi and Usama Mir making crucial breakthroughs.
Despite the late surge from Bracewell, Pakistan's emerging pacer Abbas Afridi proved to be a thorn in New Zealand's side, finishing as Pakistan's best bowler with figures of 3/20.
With the series now poised delicately at 2-1 in favor of New Zealand, both teams are set for a thrilling finale on April 27 at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Key changes
Imad Wasim replaced the injured Irfan Niazi, while Fakhar Zaman stepped in for Rizwan. Additionally, Mohammad Amir, who sat on the bench in the third T20I, and Zaman Khan were included in the playing XI, while Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were given a rest.
The playing XIs for both teams are as follows:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Zaman Khan.
New Zealand: TA Blundell (wk), TB Robinson, D Foxcroft, MS Chapman, JDS Neesham, Michael Bracewell (c), JA Clarkson, Ish Sodhi, JA Duffy, BV Sears, W O'Rourke.
After New Zealand's striking comeback in the five-match T20I series, levelling the series 1-1 with a stunning victory in the third match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, the stakes are higher than ever for both teams. Mark Chapman's pivotal role in leading the visitors to victory in the third match has further intensified the competition.
With two matches remaining in Lahore, the series is poised on a knife-edge. The upcoming matches, scheduled on April 25 and 27 at the Gaddafi Stadium, promise high-octane cricketing action.
The Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series is being broadcast live on Pakistan’s premier sports channel, Geo Super.
Schedule recap:
- April 18 — 1st T20I, Rawalpindi — Match called off due to rain
- April 20 — 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi — Pakistan won by seven wickets
- April 21 — 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi — New Zealand won by seven wickets
- April 25 — 4th T20I, Lahore - New Zealand won by 5 runs
- April 27 — 5th T20I, Lahore
