Pakistan vs New Zealand: fifth T20 cricket international – as it happened
All our updates as Pakistan beat New Zealand by nine runs in Lahore to draw the series in the final T20 of the tour.
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Pakistan beat New Zealand by nine runs to win the final T20 international of New Zealand’s tour:
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Pakistan beat New Zealand by nine runs to win the final T20 international of New Zealand’s tour:
- Pakistan draw the series with New Zealand following a nine-run win in the final T20 international of the tour.
- Babar Azam top scored with 69 as Pakistan scored 178-5. Shaheen Shah Afridi took four wickets on his return to the side as the Kiwis, who had reached 81-1, were bowled out for 169.
- The Kiwis led the five-match series 2-1 coming into the fifth game following a four-run win on Thursday.
- The Kiwis romped to a seven-wicket win in the third match in Rawalpindi to level the series on Sunday.
- Pakistan won the second match at the same venue with the same margin on Saturday.
- The first match of the series was washed out after two balls.
Goodbye for now
After the series began on a rather damp squib in the first T20I washout in Rawalpindhi, it has certainly provided plenty of drama and action.
Both sides landed heavy blows to take it right down to the final game of the series.
If New Zealand won, they would have come away with a 3-1 series victory, which would have been highlighted further with the new recruits at hand.
But it wasn’t meant to be as Pakistan held their nerve and used their bowlers judiciously to end up tying the series, which in the end is a fair reflection of how it all went these past few weeks.
We hope you enjoyed our coverage of today’s encounter, and till next time, this is Rohan Sharma signing off on behalf of Al Jazeera.
Pakistan clinch the final T20I by 9️⃣ runs 🙌
Outstanding performance by the bowlers to defend 178 💫#PAKvNZ | #AaTenuMatchDikhawan pic.twitter.com/HI9u6sQf02
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 27, 2024
‘I felt we were 10 runs short but it was still a par score’
Victorious Pakistan captain Azam shared his thoughts: “The fast bowlers were getting swing early on. After the powerplay, Usama got help from the wicket. We did what we felt best according to the situation”
“We used eight bowlers today and four of them were spinners. It becomes difficult when you have so many options.”
“Maddy [Imad] has great experience. If he doesn’t bowl in the powerplay, he can bowl in the middle overs. Usama Mir bowled a brilliant spell today.”
“The new ball came on nicely to the bat. The way we planned, it didn’t go accordingly. I felt we were 10 runs short but it was still a par score.”
“Throughout the series we tried different combinations. We tinkered with the batting order. We tried different bowlers at different stages. We will focus on where we can improve.”
📸 Charging in the death overs 🔥#PAKvNZ | #AaTenuMatchDikhawan pic.twitter.com/KwC07kxqy3
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 27, 2024
‘To lose the wickets there cost us’
Losing New Zealand skipper Bracewell, provided his thoughts as well: “It is a pretty fair reflection of the series [the tied result]. It has been close fought. Happy to come here and learn to play in these different conditions. Credit to Pakistan for winning the game.”
“We lost a couple of wickets there in the middle. Shaheen and Usama bowled particularly well. To lose the wickets there cost us.”
“We take a huge amount of positives [from the series]. To expose the guys to certain world class players [and] always good to take experience from playing in different conditions and against a quality side.”
“You are playing against some great players and different conditions from home. How we adapted from game to game is also pretty special.”
‘I try to mix things up but [the] yorker is the best ball in this format’
Shaheen, for his four for 30, is adjudged Player of the Match and had this to say at the post-match presenation: “Whatever is happening, it’s good for the team. I try to strike with the ball [and] also try to contribute with the bat and in the field.”
“The ball was keeping a bit low and so we focused on bowling wicket-to-wicket and it worked. When the ball is reversing, I try to mix things up but [the] yorker is the best ball in this format.”
𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒇𝒇 ✨
Shaheen has put on a stellar exhibition! #PAKvNZ | #AaTenuMatchDikhawan pic.twitter.com/enRXhIQFAK
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 27, 2024
Post-match quotes to follow
We will have more updates once the post-match presentation begins.
The T20I series ends in a 2-2 stalemate as Pakistan clinch a thriller in the final game against New Zealand in Lahore 👌
📝 #PAKvNZ: https://t.co/DXtCUnLidv pic.twitter.com/Ql2amAshpr
— ICC (@ICC) April 27, 2024
Pakistan square series with nine-run victory
It all looked improbable when New Zealand started so brightly in the first half of this innings.
Despite getting Blundell out early, Seifert and Bracewell put on 76 for the second wicket to steer the ship.
New Zealand were well ahead of the equation at that point when they reached 97 for two.
But that is when Pakistan’s spinners and Shaheen came roaring back, taking wickets at regular intervals as New Zealand’s innings began to crumble.
In the space of 72 runs, New Zealand lost eight further wickets.
Shaheen’s four for 30 and Usama’s two for 21 were the standout performances from the bowlers.
Spinners have been brilliant today 👏#PAKvNZ | #AaTenuMatchDikhawan pic.twitter.com/S4tGPAYG7E
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 27, 2024
WICKET! O’Rourke run out! New Zealand 169 all out
Amir delivers a slower one across Clarkson which he can’t get away.
Off the next ball, he does get him away through mid-on.
Once again, Clarkson wants the strike, but O’Rourke was no way near his end when Amir whips off the bails.
Pakistan win by 10 runs to set the Gaddafi crowd alight!
WICKET! Sears run out! New Zealand 168-9
Amir is tasked with bowling the final over.
He delivers a wide to Sears.
Clarkson calls for the run as he is desperate to get on strike.
Usman sees this and quickly throws to the non-striker’s, where Sears is well short of his crease when the bails are whipped off.
New Zealand have Clarkson on strike but just one wicket left.
O’Rourke is the new batter.
19 overs. New Zealand 167-8
Abbas finishes with a yorker just outside off which Clarkson is unable to get away.
New Zealand need 12 to win so we could see a potential Super Over!
Clarkson hammers six!
Abbas back into the attack.
Clarkson edges the match in New Zealand’s favour as he clubs a massive blow over midwicket.
The crowd is deathly silent now as they just need 15 off 10.
18 overs. New Zealand 157-8
Sears picks up a rather fortuitous boundary as he digs out a yorker on middle and leg.
The ball continues through fine leg for four.
Clarkson then ends the over with a slap through extra cover to register another.
New Zealand now need 22 off 12, so Azam will be nervous.
Amir back on
Amir brought back into the attack.
He does well to just allow the one run off his first three balls, which is appreciated generously by the partisan crowd.
17 overs. New Zealand 146-8
Clarkson is able to collect a four with a pull through deep midwicket.
The fielder gets to it, but can’t steer it away from hitting the rope.
Shaheen ends his spell with four for 30.
New Zealand need 33 off 18.
Review for leg before
Sears gets a fullish length, and just like Sodhi is unable to get bat on ball.
Shaheen goes up again, but this time the umpire is unmoved.
Pakistan decide to review late, but replays confirm impact was outside leg.
WICKET! Sodhi LBW! New Zealand 137-8
Shaheen is showing why he is considered one of the best in the world.
Bowling round the wicket, Sodhi tries to keep out another fullish length, but misses the ball.
Shaheen goes up right away for leg before, and the umpire deems it so.
New Zealand call for a review, but once again no bat on it, and the ball was going to hit the stumps.
Pakistan are just two wickets away from tying the series.
Sears’s turn now to face the music.
16 overs. New Zealand 137-7
Shadab continues from his end.
Clarkson spoils the mood of the crowd with a massive six over long on.
It brings the equation now to 42 off 24, so still very much possible for the visitors if Clarkson can stay till the end.
15 overs. New Zealand 128-7
Sodhi is able to keep out the hat-trick ball from Shaheen.
From 97 for 2, New Zealand are suddenly 128 for 7.
It is also the first time Pakistan have used eight bowlers in a T20I.
WICKET! Foulkes bowled! New Zealand 125-7
Shaheen goes round the wicket to the new batter, and delivers the perfect yorker.
It is too good for Foulkes, and the wickets are sent tumbling.
Shaheen now on a hat-trick as Gaddafi roars in delight.
With that dismissal, Sodhi walks to join Clarkson.
WICKET! Neesham caught! New Zealand 125-6
Shaheen delivers a shortish length which Neesham attempts to hit down the ground.
He instead top-edges another chance, with Shadab this time completing it.
Huge wicket for the hosts as no boundary rope is too far for Neesham once well set.
The new batter will be Foulkes.
Neesham dropped
Shaheen into the attack.
Neesham goes for the lofted shot through deep midwicket.
It looks to be going straight to Iftikhar at deep midwicket, but at the last second, he realises he is too far in as he begins back-peddling.
But it is too late as the ball bursts through his hands and continues onto the rope to make it a boundary.
14 overs. New Zealand 121-5
Despite giving up 13 runs in this over, Usama finishes with figures of two for 21, so his captain will be plenty pleased with that effort.
New Zealand need 58 off 36, so all results possible at the moment.
Clarkson gets first-ball boundary
Usama into his final over.
He drifts one outside off, which allows Clarkson to lean forward and drive it through extra cover for four.
13 overs. New Zealand 108-5
Neesham may be the answer here for the visitors.
He smashes one down long off which races to the boundary.
Imad ends his over with just five off it.
It will be a parade of spinners, I imagine, as we go deeper into the innings.
WICKET! McConchie LBW! New Zealand 103-5
Imad into the attack and delivers first ball as he gets McConchie leg before wicket.
The umpire straightaway raises his finger, kicking off scenes of euphoria.
But New Zealand, maybe more out of desperation than anything, call for a review.
Replays confirm there was no bat on it, and ball tracking shows the ball hitting the stumps, so McConchie is soon on his way.
In the space of six runs, New Zealand have lost three wickets.
Clarkson is the new batter.
12 overs. New Zealand 103-4
Neesham picks the gap at deep midwicket to add four more runs off the final ball.
It brings up the team 100 hundred, as well.
New Zealand now need 76 off 48, but if Pakistan continue to pick up wickets, it will be a tough task.
The match is delicately placed for a close finish.