AUCKLAND: Young top-order batter Hasan Nawaz scored a scintillating century to power Pakistan to a thumping nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third T20I of the five-match series at Eden Park on Friday.
Chasing a daunting 205, Pakistan made it look effortless, reaching the target with 24 balls to spare and just one wicket down.
Openers Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz set the tone early, forging a 74-run stand that put the visitors in the driver’s seat.
Haris, in particular, was in explosive touch, smashing 41 off just 20 balls, including four fours and three sixes, before falling on the final delivery of the powerplay.
His departure, however, did little to slow Pakistan down. Skipper Salman Ali Agha joined Hasan at the crease, and the duo stitched together a magnificent unbeaten 133-run stand, ensuring a commanding victory.
Hasan was the star of the night, hammering an unbeaten 101 off just 45 balls, decorated with 10 fours and seven sixes.
Agha provided solid support, blasting 51 off 31 deliveries, striking six boundaries and two sixes along the way.
For New Zealand, Jacob Duffy was the lone wicket-taker in a tough outing for the bowlers.
Earlier, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha won the toss and opted to field first, a decision Shaheen Shah Afridi justified by striking in the opening over.
Tim Seifert (19) then stitched a 40-run stand with Mark Chapman before falling to Haris Rauf, leaving New Zealand at 43-2.
Chapman, unfazed by disciplined bowling attack of Pakistan, kept the scoreboard ticking. He built crucial partnerships of 55 with Daryl Mitchell (17) and 37 with James Neesham (3), taking charge of the innings.
Shaheen returned to break the momentum, dismissing Chapman, who scored a blistering innings of 94 runs from 44 balls, laced with eleven boundaries and four sixes.
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New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell picked up where Chapman left off, smashing 31 off 18 before Haris Rauf sent him packing.
Pakistan bowlers took the remaining two wickets to wrap up the innings in 19.5 overs, restricting New Zealand to 204.
Haris Rauf led the attack with bowling figures of 3-29, while Shaheen Afridi, Abbas Afridi and Abrar Ahmed picked two wickets each.
Pakistan Playing XI: Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (c), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf
New Zealand Playing XI: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitch Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears
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