LAHORE: Disciplined New Zealand came out roaring to breeze past nervy Pakistan in the third PAK vs NZ T20I and stayed alive in the ongoing five-match series.
The third T20I of the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand was played here at the Gaddafi Stadium.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham opted to bat first after the coin flipped in his favour and his men justified his decision by posting a decent total on the scoreboard with Latham himself leading the charge with a brilliant half-century while Daryl Mitchell scored a vital 33.
The target set by the Blackcaps eventually proved to be too much for the home side as they failed to complete the series triumph in the third T20I.
The two sides will lock horns in the fourth T20I on Thursday (April 20th) with Babar-led Pakistan eyeing the series triumph.
Needing 15 to win from Neesham’s final over, he hit a six and a four to reduce the target to five off the last three deliveries.
But Neesham had Ahmed caught at long-on by Daryl Mitchell and then after a dot ball dismissed last man Haris Rauf in the same manner.
“It was a great game and it’s satisfying to get across the line and keep the series alive,” said visiting captain Tom Latham.
“I think the whole squad will take a lot of confidence from this match moving forward.
“The three early Pakistan wickets in the powerplay set us up and we pride ourselves on our fielding and keep the bar high every time we set foot into the middle.”
Ahmed led the fightback with Faheem Ashraf as the pair added 61 for the eighth wicket, with Ashraf holing out after a 14-ball 27 studded with two sixes and as many fours.
Ahmed smashed six sixes and three fours.
The victory means New Zealand trail the five-match series 2-1 after Pakistan won the first two games, by 88 and 38 runs, also in Lahore.
The last two matches are in Rawalpindi on April 20 and 24.
Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals with prolific opening pair Babar Azam (one) and Mohammad Rizwan (six) both gone by the fourth over with the score on just 17.
Azam was caught at third man off pacer Adam Milne while Rizwan was found short of his crease after trying to take a sharp single.
Pakistan were further jolted by left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra who dismissed Fakhar Zaman (17) and Imad Wasim for three while Saim Ayub fell to Neesham for 10.
Ish Sodhi dismissed Shaheen Shah Afridi for six and Milne accounted for Shadab Khan for 16, leaving Pakistan reeling.
The hosts battled back thanks to Ahmed, but were bowled out from the final ball on 159.
“We didn’t bat well enough tonight,” said Pakistan skipper Azam. “We kept losing wickets at crucial stages, because of which the pressure kept building throughout the run chase, but our bowling has been superb this series.”
Earlier, New Zealand’s innings was anchored by Latham’s 64 after winning the toss.
Latham, who hit seven fours and two sixes, added 65 for the third wicket with Mitchell who scored a 26-ball 33.
Mark Chapman made 16 not out off nine balls as New Zealand managed to score 51 in the last five overs.
Shaheen — playing his 50th T20I — took 2-33 while his fellow pacer Rauf finished with 2-31.
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