Pakistan avoid whitewash, beat Kiwis by 4 wickets in final T20I

Napier: Faheem Ashraf’s haul of 3/20 and Mohammad Rizwan sublime 59-ball 89 helped Pakistan beat New Zealand by 4 wickets in the third T20I at McLean Park here on Tuesday.

Rizwan was dismissed for his career-best score in the final over of the innings, as he miscued an attempted heave off Kyle Jamieson, but his efforts were not to go in vain as Iftikhar Ahmed pulled one for six over deep mid-wicket to close the game out with just two balls remaining.

Earlier, Rizwan and Mohammad Hafeez constructed a fine 72-run partnership for the second wicket, which put Pakistan in a great position. Both batsmen began in a more calculated manner and cashed in on scoring opportunities later. They were particularly impressive in how they attacked the fast bowlers through the on-side.

Hafeez equalled Shoaib Malik as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in T20I cricket before he was dismissed for 41 by Scott Kuggeleijn. New Zealand would have hoped to pull things back thereafter, but Rizwan kept his composure and continued attacking poor balls.

He and Khushdil Shah took the 16th over of the innings, bowled by Kuggeleijn, for 17 runs. Khushdil was caught in the deep the next over off Jimmy Neesham’s bowling, but the over still yielded 13 runs as Rizwan struck a six over square-leg. (UNI)