Lahore : April 27,2024 : Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 9 runs in the fifth T20 match and leveled the series at 2-2. New Zealand won the toss and decided to field. Pakistan side set a target of 179 runs for the visiting team,
New Zealand’s James Neesham, Ash Sodhi, Ben Sears, William O’Rourke and Zachary Foulkes took one wicket each. On behalf of Pakistan, captain Babar Azam was the top scorer by scoring 69 runs, Fakhar Zaman scored 43 runs and Usman Khan scored 31 runs, Iftikhar Ahmed scored 6 and Saim Ayub scored 1. Earlier, in the last T20 match of the series being played at Lahore Gaddafi Stadium, New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat first. As Pakistan opened the innings, Saeem Ayub suffered his fifth consecutive innings failure and was the wicket of William O’Rourke after scoring just one run. Captain Babar Azam and Usman Khan took over the team on this occasion and put on a partnership of 73 runs for the second wicket. At total score of 81, Ash Sodhi gave his team the second wicket and dismissed Usman Khan who scored 31 runs. Babar continued to play well and scored a half-century along with Fakhar Zaman to take the score to 123, but the national team captain who scored 69 off 44 balls on the same score was bowled out . Fakhar Zaman displayed aggressive batting and played a crucial role in bringing Pakistan’s score to a reasonable total by playing 43 runs off 33 balls. For this match, Pakistan made a change in the team and replaced Zaman Khan with Shaheen Shah Afridi as part of the final XI. Zealand have also made three changes for the match, including Tim Seifert, Colin McConchie and Zachary Foulkes.
Shaheen Shah Afridi displayed wonderful skill as an experienced bowler and got 4 wickets. He played a key role in restricting New Zealand side from walking away with the victory. New Zealand had taken a winning start and in the first 10 overs it seemed winning the match against Pakistan in Lahore . However , Shaheen Shah Afridi and other Pakistani bowlers managed to slow down scoring pace of the visiting team and finally it won the last match to level the series.
