In a nail-biting encounter, Pakistan fell short by a mere four runs against New Zealand in the fourth T20I match held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. New Zealand, batting first, set a competitive total of 178/7 in their allotted 20 overs, largely fueled by Tim Robinson’s impressive half-century. Despite Abbas Afridi’s commendable spell of 3/20, Pakistan struggled to contain the Kiwi batsmen.
In response, Pakistan’s chase seemed promising with Fakhar Zaman’s resilient 61 off 45 deliveries. However, the team faltered, managing only 174/8 at the end of their innings. Will O’Rourke’s stellar bowling figures of 3/27 and Ben Sears’ crucial contribution of 2/27 played pivotal roles in restricting Pakistan’s chase.
The match unfolded amidst a packed house at the Gaddafi Stadium, disappointing the home crowd as New Zealand clinched a narrow victory, now leading the series 2-1. The series, which commenced on an uncertain note with the first T20I being rain-affected, witnessed contrasting wins for both teams in the subsequent matches. After Pakistan’s convincing seven-wicket win in the second T20I, New Zealand bounced back strongly, securing a similar victory in the third encounter.
With the series finely poised, all eyes are now on the fifth and final T20I scheduled for April 27th. Notably, New Zealand have fielded a depleted squad for this tour, while Pakistan rely on its main pace bowlers like Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah, and Mohammad Amir to turn the tide in their favor. As anticipation builds for the decisive showdown, cricket enthusiasts await an exhilarating finale to what has been an enthralling series so far.
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