New Zealand kept the five-match series alive by registering a thrilling four-run win over Pakistan in the third T20 International despite Iftikhar Ahmed’s last-minute blistering innings.
Iftikhar scored a blistering 60 off 24 balls with the help of six sixes and three fours, which put Pakistan in a position to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
New Zealand medium pacer James Neesham, however, bowled well in the last over to bowl Pakistan out for 159 in 20 overs. New Zealand’s top eight players are playing in the Indian Premier League and they have sent a less experienced team here.
New Zealand had scored 163 for five while batting before captain Tom Latham’s innings of 64 runs off 49 balls. Apart from Latham, Daryl Mitchell contributed 33 runs for New Zealand.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf took two wickets each. Pakistan did not start well and at one stage their score was 88 for seven wickets. Iftikhar and Faheem Ashraf (27 off 14 balls) shared a 61-run partnership for the eighth wicket from here. Meanwhile, Iftikhar equaled Pakistan’s record by completing his half-century off 20 balls.
Pakistan needed 15 runs in the last over and both these batsmen were at the crease. Iftikhar scored 10 runs in the first three balls of Neesham with the help of sixes and fours. Neesham, however, managed to dismiss Iftikhar on the fourth ball. He then ended the Pakistani innings by dismissing Rauf on the last ball.
Neesham took three wickets for 38 runs while Adam Milne and Rachit Ravindra took two wickets each. Pakistan is now leading the series 2-1. The remaining two matches of the series will be played in Rawalpindi on Thursday and Monday.
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