The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
Another wonderful game of cricket and it is New Zealand who keep their hopes alive in the series. Pakistan could have pocketed the series but Iftikhar couldn't get one more over the line. It was a good all-round effort from New Zealand to eventually come out triumphant. Like always, it was a pleasure bringing all the live updates from this game. Up until the next time, this is myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off on behalf of my fellow commentators Karthik Raj and Rajarshi Das. Goodnight, ta-ta!!
Tom Latham (New Zealand captain and Player of the Match): Yeah it was nice to get on the board. It was a great game of cricket. The confidence these guys will get from this game is big. I thought it wasn't as good a wicket as the previous two games. The way we bowled in the powerplay was outstanding, put them on the back foot with those three wickets but a T20 game is never over until it is over. Iftikhar then played a great knock and almost got them over the line. The adjustments were made in the powerplay, to get them three four down was a great start. Ish Sodhi and Rachin again picked up some important wickets and Neesh at the end, he held his nerves and got across the line. Yeah, it was nice to contribute, you have to make the most of the powerplay on these sorts of surfaces. Manages to pace this innings nicely, the guys coming in late also made some useful contributions. I guess we pride ourselves on fielding Catches and run-outs are very important, it's nice when those catches and run-outs pays off.
Babar Azam (Pakistan captain): Disappointed with the batting, we didn't utilise the Powerplay overs. After myself and Rizwan got out, there was another wicket quickly. We try to be flexible with the batting order. Iftikhar played an outstanding knock. Numbers don't matter. Heat of the moment, try to send the best batter for a particular situation. We have bowled well in the previous matches too. Be it seniors or youngsters, everyone is executing the plan well
Time for the Post-match Presentation!
New Zealand won by 4 runs
New Zealand 163/5 in 20 overs
Tom Latham 64(49) | Daryl Mitchell 33(26) Haris Rauf 2/31(4) | Shaheen Afridi 2/33(4)
Pakistan 159 all-out in 20 overs
Iftikhar Ahmed 60(24) | Faheem Ashraf 27(14) James Neesham 3/38(4) | Rachin Ravindra 2/28(3)
What a game of cricket and it is New Zealand who keeps the series alive with a hard-fought victory. Pakistan was dead and buried when Iftikhar came out in the middle but just when everyone thought the game was done and dusted, Iftikhar turned it around with a blistering knock off 60 off 24 deliveries. He was just a hit away from taking Pakistan over the line but couldn't quite clear the long-on fielder. In the end, Neesham bagged the wicket of Haris Rauf to hand New Zealand a thrilling 4 run win.
At the halfway stage, Pakistan would have been relatively satisfied to chase 164 despite the pitch being a sluggish one. They needed to bat sensibly and put on a good opening stand. Babar and Rizwan tends to thrive whenever chasing this middling type of score but it wasn't for today. Both Babar and Rizwan was dismissed cheaply, putting Pakistan under early pressure.
Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub tried to resurrect the run chase but the slowness of the wicket didn't allow them to play their strokes freely. Matt Henry and Adam Milne bowled impressive opening spells and was supported brilliantly in the middle overs by the spin duo of Ish Sodhi and Rachin Ravindra. When Pakistan lost the 6th wicket in the form of Shaheen Afridi, it looked a foregone conclusion.
Iftikhar Ahmed started off with some lusty blows and didn't back down even after the wicket of Shadab Khan. In Faheem Ashraf, he found an able partner who also managed to hit a few out of the ground to make things interesting. Iftikhar smashed 6 sixes and 3 fours and none of the bowlers were spared during his blitzkrieg. With 5 required off 3 deliveries, Iftikhar was holed out at long-on and Haris couldn't put the finishing toucher
20
overs
159/10score
6
0
4
W
0
w
runs
Haris Rauf*
0(2)
Naseem Shah
0(3)
Jimmy Neesham
3/38
19.6 James Neesham to Haris Rauf, RAUF HOLES OUT AND NZ WIN A THRILLER! Length delivery, Rauf moves across and looks to swing hard but he mis-hits it to deep mid-wicket. Bowes runs in and takes a fine catch as the Kiwi players break into celebrations! NZ sneak a four-run win to stay alive in this series!
Haris Rauf c Chad Bowes b James Neesham 0 (2b, 0x4, 0x6)
19.5 James Neesham to Haris Rauf, SWING AND A MISS! Back of a length outside-off, Rauf winds up for a big slog but he misses it. Just one ball left now, five needed!
Haris Rauf, RHB comes out to the crease.
The pendulum has swung again, just when it mattered the most, Iftikhar has holed out at long-on. Take nothing away from this knock though, he has certainly taken Pakistan within touching distance of the victory target. Stil 5 required off 2.