New Zealand batter Mark Chapman’s blistering maiden T20I century powered an inexperienced Black Caps facet to a series-leveling victory in opposition to Pakistan on Monday. New Zealand appeared out of it at 73-4 within the tenth over, chasing 194. Then Chapman and Jimmy Neesham mixed for an unbeaten 121 runs in 9.3 overs to win the fifth and closing T20.
Chapman turned the primary visiting batter to attain a century in opposition to Pakistan in T20I cricket. He additionally turned the first-ever batter to attain a century batting at No. 5 or decrease in a profitable chase.
The Black Caps pulled off the second highest chase in opposition to Pakistan after they made 194-4 in reply to Pakistan’s 193-5 anchored by opener Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 98 off 62 balls. Chapman smashed a career-best 104 not out off 57 balls. Neesham hit his second highest T20 rating of 45 not out off 25.
WATCH Mark Chapman rating his maiden T20I century in opposition to Pakistan HERE…
Maiden T20I _ for Mark Chapman. An extraordinary match-winning effort from the left-handed batter _#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/4f1qIQVnSg
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 24, 2023
New Zealand got here again from dropping the primary two matches in Lahore to sq. the sequence 2-2. The fourth match on Friday was washed out. Chapman was the sequence star by scoring 290 runs in 5 video games in opposition to a full-strength Pakistan bowling assault. He was dismissed simply as soon as within the opening sport. It was a shocking present by a New Zealand squad depleted of eight frontline gamers who opted for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
“One of the best innings a lot of us have ever seen. Hats off to Chapman,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham stated. “They (Neesham and Chapman) just worked out their partnership really well and kept piling the pressure back on the opponents. It’s mightily satisfying that we ended with a series draw after being 2-0 down.”
New Zealand was in hassle early within the sequence decider. Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Latham off the primary ball and located the sting of Will Young’s bat in the identical over. Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim additionally acquired two wickets and tied down the New Zealanders.
But Chapman and Neesham minimize free in a chase paced to perfection. Shadab Khan, who was taken out of the assault after bowling two overs for 29 runs, had a forgetful evening in his hometown when he missed a regulation catch in Afridi’s return spell that would have dismissed Chapman on 67.
Chapman smashed 11 boundaries and 4 sixes, together with a spliced six over third man off Haris Rauf, in an outstanding show at Pindi Cricket Stadium. “Special knock this from Chapman, congratulations to him,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam stated. “We were 10-15 runs short after Rizwan revived the innings for us through the middle phases.”
Rizwan gave Pakistan momentum after quick bowler Blair Tickner, taking part in his first sport of the sequence rather than an injured Matt Henry, took two fast wickets and ended up with 3-33. Babar and Rizwan mixed for 51 off 34 balls earlier than Tickner dismissed Babar and Mohammad Haris, one of many two modifications by Pakistan.
Rizwan added 71 runs with Iftikhar Ahmed (36) and a fast 68 with Imad Wasim (31). Rizwan hit seven fours and 4 sixes to wish three runs off the ultimate over for his second T20 hundred. But he might make solely a single off the primary ball. Facing the final supply by Neesham, Rizwan missed. Both groups start a five-match one-day worldwide sequence on Thursday at Rawalpindi.
(with PTI inputs)
