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Right then! All eyes are on the IPL but this series has produced another classic. Indeed, another Rawalpindi run-fest and the chasing team came out on top out of the blue
It was a one-sided tussle in the first two matches but New Zealand never gave up as they strongly believed in their team and leveled the series with an emphatic run chase, that kept everyone at the edge of their seats. This would surely go down as one of the best matches in New Zealand's Cricket history. Chapman played a dream knock to help his team cross the line and his partnership with Neesham won't be forgotten soon.
Well, Pakistan had a full control in this match until the 10th over of the second innings but they were beaten by one man and he's none other than Mark Chapman. As Latham said, it's unfortunate that he won't be part of the ODI series, which starts in the same venue in a couple of days' time. We will bring you the LIVE coverage at 3:00 pm IST on Thursday, until then, it's Pragadeesh and Arya saying goodbye and goodnight
Tom Latham (New Zealand Captain) - Yeah I guess. When someone plays an innings like that. One of the best innings we have seen live. Hats off to Chapy in the end. Just the way they went about things was incredible. Chapy played a fantastic knock and the way Neesh stayed with him in the partnership was good to see. We are trying to improve and keep learning from game-to-game. To come out to level the series after 2-0 down at the start was great. Unfortunately, he's (Chapman) heading home. It's going to be a tough series. It was a great T20 series and the ODI series isn't going to be any different. Looking forward to that
Babar Azam (Pakistan captain): The way we started, we should have reached more than what we got in the end. The way Rizwan and Iftikhar were hitting, I thought we could reach 200. We were definitely 10-15 runs short. The way Iftikhar has improved his batting is quite exceptional. He performed admirably with the bat. Same with Imad, he has improved drastically with the bat. It helped us a lot especially with the middle order struggling, It was a positive approach from us to try out a few youngsters. We had planned to give opportunities to the younger ones. I think credit goes to Chapman. You cant do anything when someone plays like that. He did gave us a chance but we couldn't quite take that. We have to switch on quickly with the ODI's coming up. It is a different format and as professionals, we are confident of putting up a good show.
Mark Chapman is the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series. Here is what he has to say: It was special. Very happy to go into the game with a chance of levelling the series and happy to get over the line. I mean it took a bit of time in the first two games to adjust. As a bowling group we made adjustments and 2-2 is a great result for us. Remembering to watch the ball on those moments. Jimmy struck those mighty blows and took the pressure off me.
Time for the post-match presentation ceremony.
New Zealand won by 6 wickets Mark Chapman 104(57) | Mohammad Rizwan 98(62) Blair Tickner 3-33(4) | Imad Wasim 2-21(4)
Did anyone see this coming? Did anyone give Chapman a chance to score a hundred when Ihsanullah was all over him in the fifth over? It will take some time to return to the senses if you are a New Zealand fan, and, on the other hand, the Rawalpindi crowd is still stunned in silence.
193 wasn't a difficult total to chase particular in a ground like Rawalpindi but Shaheen Afridi put Pakistan in a driving seat with a double strike in the first over. Bowes' stay was short-lived and Mitchell's struggle was ended by Imad in his final over. The Kiwis needed 121 runs in the final 10 overs and the odds were stacked against them but what we witnessed after Drinks was a complete carnage from Chapman as he didn't allow anyone to have their say in the middle
The onslaught started when Chapman smacked Faheem for three boundaries and then, he tore the like of Afridi, Shadab and Rauf apart with some scintillating shots. He got the lifeline after Shadab dropped a sitter at long-on and it came back to bite Pakistan in the end. Neesham had the best seat to watch some free-flowing batting from Chapman but not to forget that he made his presence felt by everyone with some clean and powerful strikes.
Suddenly, the Pakistan bowlers ran out of ideas and struggled to bowl to this destructive duo at the back end. Chapman became just the second New Zealand batter to score a T20I century against Pakistan and his belligerent knock helped New Zealand to level the series 2-2
19.2 Faheem Ashraf to Mark Chapman, Chapman leads New Zealand to victory. A slower delivery on a length around middle, nudged away with soft hands towards the mid-on region and returns for the couple to win it for the Kiwish.
19.1 Faheem Ashraf to James Neesham, that was a back of a length delivery around the middle stump channel, was too close for the cut as he ends up chopping it away towards the off side for a single.
Faheem Ashraf [1-0-14-0] comes back into the attack
Looks like these two are in the mood to even chase more than 194. Surely, not in the wildest of dreams anyone thought this match would go down to the final over and become a mere formality in favour of New Zealand. But here we are - The Kiwis are one hit away to level the series