On Friday, March 21, New Zealand played Pakistan in the third Twenty20 International of the series at Eden Park in Auckland. After winning the toss, the visitors decided to chase on a level deck.
Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, the Kiwi starting duo that has been effective so far, didn’t work this time. Haris Rauf plucked a thunderbolt and caught Allen (0 off 3) at short fine leg. Seifert was dismissed for 19 runs off nine balls after a brief but swift partnership with Mark Chapman, who came out next.
Chapman was doing well, and he received good support from his new partner, Daryl Mitchell (17 off 11). Chapman was playing well at one end, but the Kiwis continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. The run rate did not significantly decrease as a result. Chapman made a solid 94 runs off 44 balls before being finally removed in the 13th over. With 31 runs off 18 balls, captain Michael Bracewell gave the innings a late boost, guiding New Zealand to 204 all out from 19.5 overs.
The openers for Pakistan were in control from the beginning.
As three-game-old Hasan Nawaz, who had been out for ducks in the first two games, took some time to find his footing, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris took the lead at first.
There was no turning back as he joined the celebration and began hitting the Kiwi bowlers for fours and sixes. Haris got removed shortly before the powerplay finished (41 off 20). At this point, Pakistan was 74/1 from 5.5 overs.
Salman Ali Agha, the captain, joined Haris, but the attack continued. The pair continued their assault on the target hammer and tongs. The bowlers were unable to purchase a wicket or even halt the flow of runs. Notably, Nawaz got not just his first hundred but also Pakistan’s fastest T20I century in just 44 balls, while Agha reached his half-century with 51* off 31. Pakistan won the match by nine wickets with four overs left as he concluded at 105* from 45 balls with 10 fours and seven sixes.
For the bowlers who went for lots of runs, the game was forgettable. Rauf, though, was notable with 3/29 off four overs. Nawaz was named the Player of the Match because of his brilliant hundred.
The following game will take place at Mount Maunganui on Sunday, March 23.
India
