By Zainab Shafiq 
In a breathtaking display of power-hitting and clinical bowling, Pakistan secured a dominant 9-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third T20I at Eden Park, Auckland, chasing down a mammoth target of 205 with 24 balls to spare. The win kept the five-match series alive, with New Zealand now leading 2-1.
New Zealand’s Innings: Chapman Shines, but Pakistan Strike Regularly
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, New Zealand got off to a shaky start as Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Finn Allen for a duck in the first over. Tim Seifert provided a brief spark with a quickfire 19 off 9 balls, but Haris Rauf dismissed him in the fourth over, leaving the hosts at 43/2.
Mark Chapman then took centre stage, playing a scintillating knock of 94 off just 44 balls, including 11 fours and 4 sixes. His aggressive batting kept New Zealand on track for a massive total, but Pakistan’s bowlers struck at regular intervals to prevent the innings from spiralling out of control. Daryl Mitchell (17 off 11) and Michael Bracewell (31 off 18) contributed handy cameos, but the middle and lower order faltered against Pakistan’s disciplined attack.
Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3/29, while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed claimed two wickets each. New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 204 in 19.5 overs, setting Pakistan a challenging target.
Pakistan Defeat New Zealand in Third T20I: Watch Highlights
Pakistan’s chase began in explosive fashion, with openers Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz tearing into the New Zealand bowling attack. Haris smashed 41 off just 20 balls, including 4 fours and 3 sixes, before falling to Jacob Duffy in the sixth over. By then, Pakistan had already raced to 74/1, laying a solid foundation for the chase.
Hasan Nawaz, however, was the star of the show. The left-handed batsman played a breathtaking innings, scoring an unbeaten 105 off just 45 balls, laced with 10 fours and 7 sixes. His fearless strokeplay and impeccable timing left the New Zealand bowlers helpless, as he brought up his century in just 44 deliveries.
At the other end, captain Salman Agha played a composed knock of 51* off 31 balls, providing excellent support to Nawaz. The duo added an unbroken 133-run partnership for the second wicket, guiding Pakistan to victory in just 16 overs.
New Zealand’s bowlers had no answers to Pakistan’s onslaught, with Kyle Jamieson (0/54) and Ben Sears (0/51) bearing the brunt of the assault. Hasan Nawaz’s heroics earned him the Player of the Match award, as Pakistan completed one of their most commanding chases in T20I history.
With the series now finely poised at 2-1, both teams will head to the 4th T20I with everything to play for. Pakistan’s emphatic win has injected fresh momentum into the contest, while New Zealand will be eager to bounce back and seal the series in the next game.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand: 204 all out in 19.5 overs (Mark Chapman 94, Michael Bracewell 31; Haris Rauf 3/29, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/36)
Pakistan: 207/1 in 16 overs (Hasan Nawaz 105*, Salman Agha 51*; Jacob Duffy 1/37)
Result: Pakistan won by 9 wickets (with 24 balls remaining)
Player of the Match: Hasan Nawaz (Pakistan)
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