New Zealand’s captain Michael Bracewell (CL) celebrates with teammates (Credit score: AFP)
Opener Tim Robinson hit a maiden half century to carry New Zealand to 178-7 in 20 overs earlier than pacer William O’Rourke claimed 3-27 to maintain Pakistan all the way down to 174-8.
Skilled allrounder Jimmy Neesham stored his cool to defend six off the final ball to clinch a four-run victory for New Zealand on Thursday within the fourth Twenty20 worldwide in opposition to Pakistan in Lahore.
Pakistan wanted 18 off the final over of their chase of 179 however Neesham got here out in flying colors regardless of being hit for a boundary off the primary ball, giving a packed Gaddafi Stadium crowd heartbreaks.
Opener Tim Robinson hit a maiden half century to carry New Zealand to 178-7 in 20 overs earlier than pacer William O’Rourke claimed 3-27 to maintain Pakistan all the way down to 174-8.
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Returning allrounder Imad Wasim (22 not out) managed to hit the final ball for a single as New Zealand take an unassailable 2-1 lead within the five-match collection with the final recreation on Saturday, additionally in Lahore.
Pakistan additionally misplaced the third match by seven wickets after successful the primary by the identical margin whereas the primary match was deserted after simply two balls — all three in Rawalpindi.
The defeats are a jolt to a full-strength Pakistan facet of their preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in the USA and the West Indies in June.
New Zealand, lacking a bunch of gamers attributable to Indian Premier League, accidents and unavailability, can really feel elated at their bench energy going into the World Cup.
Pakistan sensed they had been in with an opportunity when Fakhar Zaman, who made 45-ball 61 with three sixes and 4 boundaries, lifted Pakistan from 79-4 with a 59-run stand for the fifth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed who made a 20-ball 23.
However O’Rourke, enjoying solely his fourth T20I, dismissed Ahmed so as to add to his wickets of Babar Azam (5) and Saim Ayub (20) to offer New Zealand a lift.
Fellow pacer Ben Sears (2-27) claimed Zaman’s wicket with 33 wanted off 14 balls.
Earlier, Robinson batted with aggression.
Robinson’s 36-ball 51 with two sixes and 4 fours lifted New Zealand — who had been despatched in to bat — to 93-1 in 10 overs earlier than Abbas Afridi’s profession finest 3-20 helped Pakistan pull again.
New Zealand began briskly with Robinson and Tom Blundell, who made 28 off 15, placing on 56 for the opening stand in 5 overs.
However from 94-1 New Zealand misplaced three wickets, together with that of dangerman Mark Chapman for eight, as Pakistan’s fielders held catches to again some good bowling by Abbas.
Dean Foxcroft chipped in with 34 off 26 deliveries and skipper Michael Bracewell added 27 to maintain the scoreboard ticking as New Zealand managed 43 within the final 5 overs.
Pakistan had been pressured to make 5 adjustments as wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and Muhammad Irfan Khan had been injured whereas they rested Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)
