In the fourth game of their five-match T20I series, New Zealand edged hosts Pakistan 2-1 thanks to a thrilling finish that saw them keep their composure in a cliffhanger at the Gadfafi Stadium in Lahore.
After being put to bat, New Zealand scored a respectable 178 runs. An excellent stand by the openers set the stage for the innings. As soon as he started to move quickly—hitting a 15-ball 28—partner Tim Robinson wasn’t far behind. The pair combined for 56 within the powerplay.
Zaman Khan of Pakistan responded by getting Blundell, ending that dangerous opening stand. But Robinson had to contend with Dean Foxcroft’s aggressive companionship. The latter hit three sixes in a fast-paced combination that drove the score higher. Robinson, who had scored 51 to become Abbas Afridi’s first victim, was nearly hit for 150 by his knock.
Despite a late surge from New Zealand, Afridi struck twice more in the middle overs to put them on the back foot. With a few boundaries and a 27 from Michael Bracewell, the visitors reached a respectable 178.
Pakistan’s response was likewise off to a rough start as they lost their top three during the powerplay, with captain Babar Azam scoring just one of William ORourke’s two strikes. But in the middle overs, they staged a comeback led by Fakhar Zaman, who with a 45-ball 61 held the innings together and created the stage for a successful chase.
Iftikhar Ahmed scored a timely twenty-three runs and Zaman’s knock made sure Pakistan was never out of the chase. They encountered another setback, too, as they dropped three balls in a row, including Zaman and Ahmed’s. But Imad Wasim came in with 28 required from the final two overs. He left 18 off the last over delivered by James Neesham after hitting two fours off the penultimate over from Jacob Duffy.
The first ball off the over was hit for a four by Usama Mir, but Neesham found a yorker to castle him on the following ball. But as soon as Wasim started hitting again, he placed Neesham under strain, causing him to make a mistake with his first ball and give up a boundary with the penultimate ball. Neesham was able to maintain a wide line, away from Wasim’s hitting arc, and ended up giving just a single to seal a thrilling victory and ensure that the visitors would not lose the series, even with five needed off the final delivery.
Brief Scores: Tim Robinson (51) and Abbas Afridi (3-20) of New Zealand defeated Fakhar Zaman (61; William ORourke 3-27) of Pakistan 174/8 by 4 runs.
