New Zealand defeat Pakistan by 9 wickets in 4th T20I tri-series
Christchurch, The Gulf Observer: New Zealand defeated Pakistan by nine wickets in the fourth T20I match of the tri-series played in Christchurch on Tuesday.
Set a meager target of 131 runs to win, the New Zealanders overcame it by losing only one wicket, and that too in 16.1 overs. Their opener Finn Allen hit six sixes in his 42-ball 62 before he was stumped by Muhammad Rizwan off Shadab Khan’s bowling.
New Zealand opener Devon Conway remained unbeaten on 49.
Earlier, New Zealand’s bowlers restricted Pakistan to 130 for seven in the Twenty20 tri-series match in Christchurch.
New Zealand defeats Pakistan by nine wickets in tri-series match
Michael Bracewell took the key wickets of the prolific opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan (16) and captain Babar Azam (21) in fine figures of two for 11 from his four overs.
Tim Southee took two wickets in two balls at the end of the innings at Hagley Oval as New Zealand tried to avenge their defeat to Pakistan at the same venue on Saturday.
Both teams, plus Bangladesh, are using the week-long tournament to fine-tune for the T20 World Cup in Australia this month.
Iftikhar Ahmed top scored with 27, including three fours.
Southee removed Iftikhar and Mohammad Nawaz with the first two deliveries of the final over but Mohammad Wasim survived the hat-trick ball.
Batting line-up in tatters
Pakistan’s batting line-up was in tatters against the hosts New Zealand in the fourth T20 match.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Pakistani managed to post a meager total of 130 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
The main scorers were Iftikhar Ahmed 27, Asif Ali 24 not out, Babar Azam 21, and Mohammad Rizwan 16
Pakistan win toss, elect to bat
Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bat against New Zealand on Tuesday in the fourth match of a Twenty20 tri-series in Christchurch.
Pakistan made just one change from the side that beat the Black Caps by six wickets at the same Hagley Oval venue on Saturday with teenage fast-bowler Naseem Shah coming in for Harris Rauf.
A win for Pakistan will put them in Friday’s final of the week-long tournament, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia which begins on Sunday.
New Zealand made two changes from the team which beat Bangladesh by eight wickets on Sunday with bowlers Adam Milne and Trent Boult replaced by Mitchell Santner and Blair Tickner.
“The pitch looks good, so we want to get a few runs on the board and put pressure on them,” said Pakistan skipper Azam, whose team is chasing a third straight win.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson hoped the Christchurch pitch would hold up for the hosts when they bat second.
“It probably won’t change too much, but we have seen the surface deteriorate a little bit in the last few games, so we will adjust with the ball, first up,” he said.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (capt), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner
Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani
Umpires: Alex Wharf (ENG), Wayne Knights (NZL)
TV Umpire: Shaun Haig (NZL)
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
