RAWALPINDI: Mark Chapman’s swashbuckling half-century powered New Zealand to beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the third T20I of the five-match series here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Set to chase 179, New Zealand comfortably chased down the total for the loss of just three wickets and 10 balls to spare, courtesy of a sensational knock by Chapman.
Tim Seifert and Tim Robinson gave a decent start to New Zealand as they added 42 runs for the first wicket before both perished in quick succession inside the batting powerplay.
Seifert scored 21 off 16 while Robinson made a 19-ball 28 with the help of five boundaries.
Coming out to bat at No.4, Mark Chapman denied Pakistan a comeback with belligerent hitting.
The left-handed batter put together a one-sided 117-run partnership with Dean Foxcroft, who perished in the 18th over after scoring an anchoring 31 off 29 deliveries.
Chapman, however, carried his bat all the way through and guided New Zealand over the line on the second delivery of the penultimate over.
He remained the top-scorer for New Zealand with an unbeaten 87 off 42 deliveries. His match-winning knock featured nine boundaries and four sixes.
For Pakistan, Abbas Afridi bagged two wickets while Naseem could pick up one.
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Put into bat first, Pakistan racked up 178/4 in the allotted 20 overs, courtesy of a blistering cameo at the backend by Shadab.
Earlier, openers Babar Azam and Saim Ayub scripted a solid start for the home side, notching up 54 runs in the batting powerplay.
Saim, who was the core aggressor of the opening stand, fell victim to Ish Sodhi after a brisk knock.
He smashed five boundaries and a six on his way to a 22-ball 32.
His dismissal halted the flow of runs for Pakistan as only 30 runs came off the next overs.
The dire need to accelerate took a toll on Babar as he too, fell victim to Sodhi, in an attempt to play a big shot.
He scored 37 off 29 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and a six.
Pakistan then lost two more batters Mohammad Rizwan — retired hurt — and Usman Khan in quick succession, resulting in them slipping to 103/3 in 12.5 Overs.
But a sensational partnership between Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi and Shadab Khan bolstered the team’s total.
The duo added 62 off 34 deliveries before Shadab perished in the penultimate over.
He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a quickfire 41 off 20 deliveries which featured four boundaries and two sixes.
Meanwhile, Irfan stood his ground firm and carried his bat all the way through with an unbeaten 30 off 20 deliveries.
Sodhi led the bowling charge for New Zealand with two wickets while Duffy and Michael Bracewell made one scalp each.
Both teams will now travel to Lahore where the last two T20Is will be played on April 25 and 27 respectively.
PLAYING XIs
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Irfan Niazi, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.
HEAD TO HEAD
Matches 41, Pakistan 22, New Zealand 17, NR 2
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