New Zealand edges Pakistan by four runs after Iftikhar’s masterclass
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Lahore: Pakistan lost their skipper, centurion of last match, Babar early as Adam Milne dismissed him on 1 run. Muhammad Rizwan’s stay on the pitch also did not last for long, as he got run out on six runs and Pakistan lost their second wicket on 17 runs. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were dismissed after scoring 17 and 10 runs respectively as Pakistan lost four wickets for 54 runs after 10 overs.
Pakistan lost their fifth wicket for 55 runs as Imad Wasim was dismissed after scoring three runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi was trapped LBW by Ish Sodhi after scoring six runs.
Iftikhar Ahmed gave Pakistan some hope as he scored 60 runs off 24 balls and Pakistan needed only 15 runs off last over.
But Iftikhar Ahmed got out when five runs were needed and Haris Rauf could not hit a boundary off last two deliveries as Pakistan lost by just four runs. The visitors managed to bat two overs without losing any wicket, as they scored 17 runs, but Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in the third over when he bowled Chad Bowes for 7 runs. Tom Latham and Will Young played slow and steady and added 36 runs off 33 balls, before Shadab Khan dismissed Young for 17 runs.
New Zealand were 64 for the loss of two wickets at half way stage. Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell accelerated in the second part of the innings and had a 65-run partnership for the third wicket. Tom Latham completed his half-century but Mitchell was dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi after scoring 33 runs. The visitors added 42 runs off last 26 balls as Haris Rauf dismissed Tom Latham for 64 and James Neesham for 10 runs and completed 10 wickets in the series.
New Zealand finished the innings at 163 for the loss of five wickets as their skipper Tom Latham was the top scorer.
New Zealand Cricket Team won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan in the third T20 International match at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore. Babar Azam made one change in the playing XI, as they rested Zaman Khan and added Naseem Shah in the team in his place. Babar Azam is also chasing the record for most T20I matches won as captain, as he has currently won 42 matches.
New Zealand made two changes as Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi returned to the team.
Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 18 2023
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