New Zealand defeated Pakistan by four runs in the fourth T20I in Lahore on Thursday (April 25) to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series. After a score of 178/7, New Zealand managed to restrict the home team to 174/8.
Pakistan’s chase got off to a poor start as William O”Rourke dismissed his captain Babar Azam for just five runs in the second over. The hosts lost two more wickets in the powerplay. Saim Ayub got the start but couldn’t score big and was dismissed by William ORourke for 20 runs in the fifth over.
In the sixth over, Ben Sears dismissed Usman Khan for 16, leaving Pakistan reeling at 46 for 3. Shadab Khan (7) didn’t last long either before Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed revived the fightback with a crucial 59-run stand. During the partnership, Fakhar completed his fifty off 38 balls in the 16th over.
William ORourke broke the stand in the 17th over by dismissing Iftikhar for 23. 8 runs later, Sears dismissed Fakhar for 61, reducing Pakistan to 146 for 6. Imad Wasim then led a one-on-one battle in the final overs but could not take his team to a win. With 18 runs needed in the final over, Usama Mir and Imad scored a four each but Pakistan ended up trailing by four runs.
PAK vs NZ: NZ innings:
Earlier in the game, New Zealand ended their innings on 178/7 after being asked to bat first. Opener Tim Robinson top-scored for the visitors, scoring 51 runs off 36 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes. For Pakistan, Abbas Afridi was the star with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 20 runs in three overs.
New Zealand got off to a quick start thanks to Tom Blundell’s quick knock of 28 runs off just 15 balls. He and Robinson shared a 56-run stand in less than five overs for the first wicket. Zaman Khan gave Pakistan their first breakthrough by dismissing Blundell in the fifth over.
Robinson and Dean Foxcroft shared a 38-run stand for the second wicket before Abbas Afridi dismissed the former for 51 in the 11th over. In the next two overs, Foxcroft hit three sixes to put New Zealand back in the lead. But Pakistan quickly hit back in the 14th over when Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed the in-form Mark Chapman for just eight runs.
Four runs later, Foxcroft was dismissed by Usama Mir as New Zealand were reeling at 132 for 4 in the 15th over. Foxcroft was eliminated after scoring 34 runs. After his dismissal, captain Michael Bracewell’s 27-run win helped New Zealand to a total of over 170.
Scorecard PAK vs. NZ:
