LAHORE: Iftikhar Ahmed’s quickfire 60 failed to trump Tom Latham’s half-century as New Zealand edged Pakistan by four runs in the third PAK vs NZ T20I and stayed alive in the five-match series, led by Pakistan 2-1.
Watch Live Match New Zealand Tour of Pakistan at ARY ZAP
Set to chase 164, Pakistan failed just five short of victory as the home side could raise 159 before bundling out on the final delivery despite Iftikhar’s quickfire 60.
Earlier, the green shirts got off to a dismal start as the side lost their in-form captain Babar Azam early, who perished after scoring just one.
The home side then rocked with another major blow as wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan (6) perished in the fourth over; courtesy of a direct hit by Chad Bowes.
Pakistan’s middle order once again failed to chip in and the disciplined New Zealand bowling attack restricted them to 88/7 in the 15th over.
Following the slump, Iftikhar stitched a gritty eighth-wicket partnership with Faheem Ashraf and kept their side in the hunt.
The pair raised 61 runs in just 26 deliveries before Matt Henry got rid of Faheem in the 19th over. He scored a 14-ball 27, smashing two boundaries and as many sixes.
With Pakistan needing 15 off the final over, Latham brought Neesham to bowl with ruthless Iftikhar on strike.
The right-arm pacer held his nerves intact to bar Pakistan from running away with the series win as he picked up the remaining two wickets including the prized scalp of Iftikhar and leaked away just 10 runs.
Iftikhar top-scored for Pakistan with a brisk 60 in just 24, laced up with three boundaries and six sixes but his belligerent knock eventually, turned out insufficient to steer Pakistan home.
Neesham led the bowling attack for New Zealand with 3/38 while Adam Milne and Rachin Ravindra bagged two each.
Opting to bat first, New Zealand managed to accumulate 163/5 in their quota of 20 overs, thanks to a magnificent half-century by their skipper Latham.
Earlier, the touring side failed to script a solid start to their innings as Shaheen Shah Afridi, dented New Zealand’s flying start as he castled Chad Bowes (7) in the third over.
Following an early setback, New Zealand skipper Latham and Will Young started the recovery by putting on an anchoring 36-run partnership for the second wicket before Shadab Khan broke the budding partnership by dismissing the latter.
Young could score 17 off 15 deliveries, laced up with two boundaries and a six.
Daryl Mitchell then joined his skipper Latham in the middle and turned things around for their side as they bolstered the scoring rate by stitching a vital 65-run partnership in just 43 deliveries before Shaheen drew curtains on Mitchell’s brisk knock.
He scored 33 off 26 deliveries, hitting two boundaries and a six.
New Zealand then endured a major setback in the 17th over when Haris Rauf outclassed the Blackcaps skipper with a ferocious bouncer, which marked the end of his brilliant 64-run knock.
He faced 49 deliveries and smashed seven boundaries and two sixes amid his brilliant knock, which saw him top-scoring for the touring side.
After Latham’s departure, crucial cameos from James Neesham 10 and Mark Chapman 16* took New Zealand to a decent total in the allotted overs.
Haris and Shaheen led the bowling charge for Pakistan with two wickets each while Shadab Khan made one scalp.
