The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
10:38 PM local time (03:08 PM IST): What an incredible run chase from Pakistan. They have kept the series alive. We will now move to Mount Maunganui for the 4th match of the series on Sunday. With the series in line, both teams will look to come out all guns blazing yet again. Meanwhile the 18th edition of the IPL will commence tomorrow with KKR squaring off against RCB. Do join us then and for the latest sporting news in Sportskeeda. Up until then, this is myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Bidipto Datta.
Agha Salman (Pakistan captain): I think it's an outstanding performance. The bowlers started really well. Chapman batted really well. We made a few changes and if you back the youngsters they will come good. It's a small boundary. I just said to them that 200 is a par score. It was heartening to see how Nawaz and Haris batted. I think the bowlers did really well as 200 was just a par score here. It was a do or die situation for us. Looking forward to the next game now.
Michael Bracewell (New Zealand captain): Well all I can say is that when the opposition bats like that, especially Hasan Nawaz, we can't really do much! But, we left a few runs out there in the first innings. That in T20 cricket is criminal. We needed 230 on the board today. We were at least 15 or 20 short. But credit where credit is due and they batted exceptionally!
Hasan Nawaz (Player of the Match, 105* off 45 balls): I was disappointed with how I got out in the first two games, but my captain and Shadab Khan backed me and said that I am a match-winner. It was in my mind that I had to score a run in international cricket, once that happened, I was relieved! Then I got into my game and got going. Thanks again to my captain and Shadab bhai!
10:25 PM local time (02:55 PM IST): Pakistan won by 9 wickets (with four overs to spare)
Hasan Nawaz 105*(45) | Haris Rauf 3/29(4) Mark Chapman 94(44) | Jacob Duffy 1/37
Riding on a superlative century from Hasan Nawaz and fruitful knocks from Agha Salman and Mohammad Haris, Pakistan have chased down the target of 206 with four overs to spare. After their below par showings in the first two matches, not many would have given them a chance of chasing this down but it turned out to be one of the greatest run chases you will see in T20 cricket.
The New Zealand bowlers never found a way to counter the Pakistan batters. It was Mohammad Haris who started the carnage in the first over, smashing a couple of sixes to get the innings going. Hasan Nawaz played and missed a few before getting into his groove and started belting each and every New Zealand bowler.
Haris provided the start and shared a 75-run stand with Nawaz before his departure in the final over of the powerplay. Agha Salman was the next man in and he provided just the support Hasan needed at that stage. He took the New Zealand attack to the cleaners and kept smashing boundaries at will.
It was as if he was playing against school-level bowlers. The carnage never really stopped as the duo kept finding boundaries every over. Salman was not far behind and eventually remained unbeaten on 51 off 31 deliveries which included 6 fours and a couple of fours. It was Nawaz who eventually finished off the innings with a couple of boundaries to make the series 2-1 in New Zealand’s favour.
10:25 pm local time (2:55 pm IST): It is time for the post-match presentation!
10:18 PM local time (02:48 PM IST): This has to be one of the greatest run chase in T20 cricket. What a stunning effort from Hasan Nawaz, scoring a stunning century after securing two ducks in the first two matches. Take a bow young man. It was carnage right from the word go from Mohammad Haris and Nawaz and it was carried on by Agha Salman as Pakistan reached the target with as many as four overs to spare. It was a belter of a surface but credit where it's due. What an achievement from Pakistan and they have kept the five-match series alive. New Zealand now leads the series 2-1.
16
overs
207/1score
1
2
1
1
1wd
4
4
runs
Hasan Nawaz*
105(45)
Agha Salman
51(31)
Kyle Jamieson
0/54
15.6 Kyle Jamieson to Hasan Nawaz, PAKISTAN WIN AS IF IT WERE A PIECE OF CAKE! Back of a length around off-stump. Hasan arches back and late-cuts it to the left of short third man for a boundary!