Pakistan clinch a thriller victory in the final game against New Zealand in Lahore & Draw the T20I Series by 2-2

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Pakistan Clinches last T20 Against New Zealand in Decisive Fifth Match & Draw the series by 2-2

Pakistan Label the series (Pic credit - PCB)

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore witnessed a pulsating finale as Pakistan secured a nail-biting victory by just nine runs over a resilient New Zealand side in the fifth T20 International (T20I), culminating in a well-fought series ending in a 2-2 tie.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 178/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite losing Saim Ayub early, Usman Khan's steady 31 off 24 balls and captain Babar Azam's sublime half-century (69 off 44 balls) laid the foundation. Fakhar Zaman's contribution of 43 off 33 balls bolstered the score. The New Zealand bowlers, led by William O'Rourke (1/25), Ish Sodhi (1/30), Zakary Foulkes (1/35), Ben Sears (1/46), and James Neesham (1/13), picked up crucial wickets to restrict Pakistan.


In response, New Zealand's chase got off to a strong start, thanks to Tim Seifert's aggressive innings of 52 off 33 balls. However, Shaheen Afridi's early breakthroughs and Usama Mir's crucial wickets shifted the momentum in Pakistan's favor. Afridi's stellar bowling spell of 4/30 proved pivotal in containing the Kiwi batsmen. Despite a late surge led by Josh Clarkson's valiant 38* off 26 balls, New Zealand fell short by nine runs.

Both captains, Babar Azam and Michael Bracewell, shared the series trophy, reflecting the competitive spirit and evenly contested nature of the series. The match showcased thrilling cricketing action, with Pakistan's bowling depth and New Zealand's fighting spirit on full display.

Overall, the series ended in a well-deserved 2-2 draw, highlighting the closely contested nature of T20 cricket and setting the stage for more exhilarating encounters between these two competitive sides in the future.

Player of the Match :- Shaheen Shah Afridi (4/30)

Most wickets in the first over of T20Is :-

  • Shaheen Shah Afridi - 50*
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 43
  • David Willey - 41
  • Mohammad Amir - 38
  • Sohail Tanvir - 35   
Michael Bracewell (NZ Captain): "I think the result is a pretty fair reflection of the series. The last two matches were closely fought. We learnt a lot in this series.

Lots of positives to take away from this series. Exposure to a quality side and our debutants did really well.

Great challenge to tour Pakistan. Playing against such a tough team and adapting to the different wickets. This was a great learning curve and hope to be back here soon."

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Player of the Match, Player of the Series) : "I am trying to get back to my best and I always try to help my team by picking wickets whenever I am handed over the ball. I am always pushing myself to give my 100% whether its bowling, batting or fielding. I watched the New Zealand team bowl in the first Innings and the ball was keeping a bit low so I tried bowling back of a length deliveries wicket to wicket in my first spell and I got success. At the death, Yorker is my strength and I tried to execute that in my 2nd spell. I am not disappointed of not picking up the 5th wicket, even if I get 1 wicket and the team wins, I am more than happy for that."

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