Pakistan Clinches Consolation Victory in 5th T20I Against New Zealand , after losing series with 4-1 .

In a thrilling encounter at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, Pakistan secured a convincing 42-run win against New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I of the series. The victory helped Pakistan avoid a series whitewash, providing a positive end to their challenging tour of New Zealand in 2024. The standout performances of Iftikhar Ahmed and Finn Allen earned them the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards, respectively.

Pakistan’s Innings:

Pakistan posted a total of 134/8 in their 20 overs, overcoming a sluggish start. Debutant Haseebullah Khan fell for a duck, and it took 10 balls for Pakistan to score their first run. Mohammad Rizwan’s resilient 38 and Fakhar Zaman’s explosive 33 off 16 balls injected momentum. Iftikhar Ahmed’s quick 5 off 8 balls, and late contributions from Sahibzada Farhan and Abbas Afridi pushed the total past 130. New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Tim Southee, Matt Henry, and Ish Sodhi, kept the pressure on, but the Pakistani batsmen managed to set a competitive target.

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Haseebullah Khan	0	3	0	0	0.00
Rizwan (wk)	38	38	4	0	100.00
Babar Azam	13	24	1	0	54.17
Fakhar Zaman	33	16	1	4	206.25
Mohammad Nawaz	1	4	0	0	25.00
Iftikhar Ahmed	5	8	0	0	62.50
Sahibzada Farhan	19	14	1	1	135.71
Shaheen Afridi (c)	1	6	0	0	16.67
Abbas Afridi	14	6	0	2	233.33
Usama Mir	1	1	0	0	100.00

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	No Balls	Wide Balls	Economy Rate
Southee	4	1	19	2	0	0	4.80
Matt Henry	4	0	30	2	0	0	7.50
Santner (c)	4	0	30	0	0	0	7.50
Lockie Ferguson	4	0	24	2	0	0	6.00
Ish Sodhi	4	0	22	2	0	0	5.50

New Zealand’s Innings:

Chasing 135 for victory, New Zealand faced early setbacks as Mohammad Nawaz and Iftikhar Ahmed took crucial wickets. Finn Allen briefly threatened with 22 runs, but the Kiwi middle-order collapsed under the pressure of Pakistan’s spin attack. Glenn Phillips fought a lone battle with 26 runs, but it was not enough as New Zealand crumbled to 92 all out in 17.2 overs.

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Finn Allen	22	19	3	1	115.79
Rachin Ravindra	1	2	0	0	50.00
Tim Seifert (wk)	19	30	0	0	63.33
Will Young	12	11	2	0	109.09
Mark Chapman	1	3	0	0	33.33
Glenn Phillips	26	22	1	1	118.18
Mitchell Santner (c)	4	4	0	0	100.00
Matt Henry	1	3	0	0	33.33
Ish Sodhi	1	3	0	0	33.33
Tim Southee	4	6	0	0	66.67
Lockie Ferguson	0	1	0	0	0.00

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	No Balls	Wide Balls	Economy Rate
Shaheen Afridi (c)	3.2	0	20	2	0	0	6.00
Mohammad Nawaz	4	0	18	2	0	0	4.50
Zaman Khan	1	0	4	1	0	0	4.00
Usama Mir	4	0	21	1	0	0	5.20
Abbas Afridi	1	0	4	0	0	0	4.00
Iftikhar Ahmed	4	0	24	3	0	0	6.00

Key Performances:

• Iftikhar Ahmed’s exceptional all-round performance (5 runs, 3 wickets) earned him the Player of the Match award.
• Finn Allen’s consistent performances throughout the series led to him being named the Player of the Series.
• Mohammad Nawaz (2-18) and Iftikhar Ahmed (3-24) starred with the ball, restricting New Zealand to their second-lowest T20I total at home.

Pakistan’s Lethargic Start:

Despite a slow start to their innings, Pakistan’s captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, made strategic decisions that proved crucial. Opting for two frontline spinners and choosing to bat on a slow surface, Pakistan overcame their lethargic start to post a challenging total.

Nawaz Sets the Tone:

Mohammad Nawaz’s early breakthroughs and economical bowling in the powerplay set the tone for Pakistan. Rachin Ravindra’s wicket in the first over and disciplined bowling from Nawaz and others restricted New Zealand’s scoring, leading to a challenging run chase.

Iftikhar Applies the Squeeze:

Iftikhar Ahmed’s off-spin proved to be a game-changer as he applied the squeeze through the middle overs. His three crucial wickets, combined with tight bowling, left New Zealand struggling to accelerate, ultimately leading to their downfall.

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Conclusion:

Pakistan’s victory in the 5th T20I showcased their resilience and adaptability, overcoming challenges to finish the tour on a positive note. The spin duo of Mohammad Nawaz and Iftikhar Ahmed played pivotal roles in dismantling New Zealand’s batting lineup, ensuring Pakistan avoided a series whitewash. The series has provided valuable insights and lessons for both teams as they look ahead to future challenges in international cricket.