In a thrilling encounter at Auckland, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 9 wickets in the third T20I of their five-match series, with Hassan Nawaz leading the charge with a blistering century off just 44 balls. This victory comes as a significant boost for Pakistan, who were keen to bounce back after trailing 2-0 in the series.
New Zealand’s Struggles and Pakistan’s Dominant Bowling Performance
The match, played at Eden Park in Auckland, saw Pakistan win the toss and opt to field first, giving them the chance to challenge New Zealand’s batters under lights. Despite a strong start from the Kiwis, Pakistan’s bowlers applied pressure throughout, limiting New Zealand’s scoring opportunities.
New Zealand posted a competitive total of 204 runs, but it was not without a struggle. The hosts were bowled out for 204 runs in 19.5 overs, a total which was much lower than what they had initially aimed for. Despite strong contributions from the top order, Pakistan’s bowlers were able to contain the Kiwis and take wickets at regular intervals.
Harish Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, claiming 3 wickets and providing crucial breakthroughs during key moments of the innings. Shahid Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, and Abbas Afridi each took 2 wickets, while Shadab Khan also claimed a vital wicket, showing their collective strength in dismantling the New Zealand batting lineup.
Pakistan made two changes to their playing XI for the third T20I, bringing in Abbas Afridi and Abrar Ahmed in place of Mohammad Ali and Jehandad Khan. This change provided Pakistan with greater depth in the bowling department, a decision that paid off handsomely as they kept New Zealand’s run rate in check throughout the innings.
Hassan Nawaz’s Brilliant Century
With the target set at 205, Pakistan needed a strong partnership to ensure the chase was on track. Hassan Nawaz delivered an extraordinary performance that left the New Zealand bowlers stunned. His 44-ball century was a masterclass in aggressive batting, showcasing his ability to hit boundaries and rotate the strike with ease. Nawaz’s innings was peppered with sixes and fours, as he quickly put Pakistan in the driver’s seat during the chase.
Nawaz’s century was the fastest T20I century by a Pakistani batsman, and it came at a crucial moment in the series. His blistering knock allowed Pakistan to reach the target with ease, requiring only 19.3 overs to complete the chase, a remarkable effort that gave them a dominant victory.
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Alongside Nawaz, Mohammad Haris provided steady support with a composed 45 runs, ensuring that the chase remained on course. Together, they shared an unbroken partnership that led Pakistan to victory, with Nawaz finishing the game in style by hitting a six to seal the win.
Pakistan’s Victory and Series Outlook
This win was a much-needed boost for Pakistan, who had been under pressure after losing the first two games of the series. The win has now brought the series to 2-1 in favor of New Zealand, and the fourth T20I will be a crucial contest for Pakistan as they look to level the series and keep their hopes alive of winning the series.
Pakistan’s team composition was also a point of interest in this match. The inclusion of Abbas Afridi and Abrar Ahmed gave the team fresh energy, and their contributions with the ball were vital in limiting New Zealand’s total. Mohammad Haris and Hassan Nawaz’s explosive partnership with the bat further added to Pakistan’s confidence.
For New Zealand, although they posted a decent total, their inability to capitalize on the strong start in the middle overs allowed Pakistan to stay in the hunt and chase down the target comfortably. New Zealand’s bowlers, on the other hand, were unable to break the crucial partnerships for Pakistan, particularly the explosive one between Nawaz and Haris.
The series now stands at 2-1 in favor of New Zealand, with two matches remaining. Pakistan will be hoping to carry the momentum from this victory into the next game, as they aim to level the series and push for a historic comeback.
With the fourth T20I set to take place soon, all eyes will be on both teams as they continue their battle for supremacy in the T20I format. Pakistan’s bowling unit will look to continue their strong performance, while their batting will need to replicate the brilliance of Hassan Nawaz to ensure another successful chase.
As the series progresses, it promises to provide more thrilling encounters and crucial moments, with both teams battling not just for victory but for valuable momentum ahead of future international tournaments.
