Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed bats through the third twenty20 cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Lahore, Pakistan on April 18, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
An inexperienced New Zealand survived Iftikhar Ahmed’s late onslaught to grab a surprising four-run win towards Pakistan and maintain alive their five-match Twenty20 collection.
Iftikhar smacked six sixes and three fours and practically sealed the collection 3-0 for Pakistan with a blistering 60 off 24 balls. But New Zealand medium-pacer James Neesham stored his nerve within the last over and Pakistan was dismissed for 159 on Monday evening.
Captain Tom Latham, main New Zealand within the absence of eight frontline gamers busy within the Indian Premier League, anchored the Kiwis to 163-5 with a superb 64 off 49 balls.
“We were pleased to get a competitive total and it’s satisfying to get across the line and keep the series alive,” Latham said. “The whole squad will take a lot of confidence from this match moving forward.”
Pakistan’s strong prime order fell and limped to 88-7 within the fifteenth over. Then Iftikhar counter-punched by elevating Pakistan’s joint quickest T20 half-century off simply 20 balls.
Together with Faheem Ashraf, who made 27 off 14 deliveries, Iftikhar introduced Pakistan in sight of victory with a 61-run, eighth-wicket stand.
Faheem holed out at lengthy on within the penultimate over and Pakistan wanted 15 off the ultimate Neesham over.
Iftikhar clobbered a first-ball six over the sq. leg boundary and hit a crisp boundary on the off facet. However, Iftikhar tried to complete off the sport with one other massive hit and was caught at lengthy on. Off the ultimate supply, final man Haris Rauf was additionally caught within the deep. Neesham took 3-38.
“We didn’t bat well enough,” captain Babar Azam stated. “The pressure kept building throughout the run chase, (but) Iftikhar delivered and Faheem also chipped in with crucial runs.”
Babar, who smashed a century on Saturday, was out for 1 after Rachin Ravindra’s spectacular diving catch at third man within the second over. Chad Bowes neatly ran out Mohammad Rizwan for six within the fourth over.
Ravindra, 2-28, and legspinner Ish Sodhi, 1-11, pinned down the batters within the center overs.
Earlier, Latham and Daryl Mitchell (33) revived New Zealand with a 65-run, third-wicket stand earlier than they fell in successive overs late within the innings.
Mitchell was deceived by Shaheen Shah Afridi’s slower supply and Latham, who hit seven fours and two sixes, was caught behind in Rauf’s return spell.
Pakistan leads the collection 2-1 and Rawalpindi hosts the remaining two matches on Thursday and Monday.
