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Yet again Pakistan can't figure out a way to get on top against this young New Zealand side. Questions will be raised on Babar & co as they suffered another defeat and are trailing 1-2 in the series. Yes, they are missing a few key players but that shouldn't be an excuse. They need to work on their batting before the final match, while their bowling inside the powerplay hasn't been good either. Can they rectify the errors and produce a strong performance on Saturday? Let's find out, but for now, it's time to end the coverage here. Until next time, this is Pragadeesh and Rajarshi saying goodbye and goodnight
Michael Bracewell (New Zealand Captain) - The way we learn from game-to game is very important. Happy that we came on the right side of the result. The Pakistan bowlers bowled well at the back end and restricted us to the par score. It's a huge positive that we expose the guys to different conditions. James Neesham has done it for many years bowling that last year and he showed his class again. Will O'Rourke had an outstanding day with the ball, and yeah, our bowling was impressive in the last 4-5 overs
Babar Azam (Pakistan Captain) - We restricted them well with the ball at the back end. They looked like getting 190-200 but we bowled right lengths to bring the game back to a chasing score. Losing 4 wickets in the powerplay was crucial. Then Fakhar played well and so did Imad in the end, but I think they bowled well in overs 7 and 10 and we lost wickets. You can say it was a different pitch. We have various injuries as well and trying out different combinations. Yes, we are trying out combinations and fine tuning ourselves and hope by World Cup time we will find the right combination and do well there. Our batting let us down in this contest."
William O'Rourke has been adjudged Player Of The Match for his figures of 3 for 27 in four overs! Here's what he has to say: We really saw them go to the slower balls quite a lot, tried to mix that as much as we could, top of the stumps sort of length. Hopefully it worked out. New ball skidding on nicely, we got off to a good start with the bat. They took the pace off the ball, we struggled, and so, we tried to use just that. We talk about what happened, try to learn and get better every match, it's been working out well so far. It's been amazing, the crowds are pumping the whole time, very loud out there. It's a very cool experience.
New Zealand won by 4 runs
What a contest we just witnessed. New Zealand never have a full-strength squad at first place but that didn't bother them as the players that stepped onto the field showed immense fighting skills to outclass the hosts again. From Robinson's clean ball-striking at the top, to the pacers rattling the top-order, it was a clinical performance by the visitors. It was intriguing until Fakhar Zaman was at the crease but Sears removed him at a crucial stage and that turned the tide in New Zealand's favour
James Neesham spilled an easy catch to hand the lifeline to Saim Ayub in the very first over but that didn't haunt the visitors as the southpaw managed to score just 20 runs eventually. William O'Rourke removed the openers early on and when it seemed the partnership between Fakhar and Iftikhar was looking dangerous, he got rid of the latter in his final over to silence the crowd. His spell turned out to be game-defining in the end
Bracewell enjoyed bowling on this wicket and put the batters under the pump in his first three overs but couldn't end his spell well. His captaincy and bowling changes were spot on throughout the innings. Lahore crowd looked stunned eventually and we have to wait and watch the response from Pakistan on Saturday
The fans look dejected as Pakistan couldn't cross the finish line in this nerve-wracking match. Well, Neesham was tasked to defend 18 runs and he kept his composure to help his side go 2-1 up in the series
20
overs
174/8score
4
W
1
2
1wd
4
1
runs
Imad Wasim*
22(11)
Mohammad Amir
1(1)
Jimmy Neesham
1/21
19.6 James Neesham to Imad Wasim, New Zealand go 2-1 up in the series! Neesham goes wide of Wasim's arc, close to the yorker line, and Imad Wasim couldn't do much other than slice it towards deep point. A case of so near, yet so far for the hosts!
It was too risky to bowl full and straight when mid-off is inside the circle. Neesham pays the price and instantly mid-off is pushed back. Will it be another yorker as a response? Or Will Imad clear the ground to help his team cross the finish line?
19.5 James Neesham to Imad Wasim, FOUR! Neesham misses the yorker, landing this on off stump. Wasim has a swing through the line, connects and clears mid off. 6 needed off the last ball.... Lahore believe!