A duo of New Zealand batters, Mark Chapman (104) and Neesham (45) take Kiwis home in 19.2 overs
By Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD: New Zealand pounded Pakistan by 6 wickets in the final encounter of 5-match T20I series on Monday (April 24, 2023) at the Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi, as the series ended 2-2 draw. The penultimate match was called off owing to heavy rain and hailstorms in the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad at the same venue.
Earlier, New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and decided to go for the chase. Pakistan scored 194 in 20 overs. Mohammad Rizwan was the topper with 98 runs. He faced 62 balls and hammered 7 fours and four huge sixes. Iftikhar Ahmed and Imad Wasim also exhibited top quality T20 cricket by scoring 36 and 31 runs respectively on 22 and 14 balls. Skipper Babar Azam contributed 19 runs off 18 balls. Blair Tickner claimed three wickets while Ish Sodhi got a single piece of wickets, as both successful bowlers conceded 33 and 21 runs respectively in their 4 overs.
Chasing 194 runs in 20 overs, Black Caps started the innings with Tom Latham and Chad Bowes, as Shaheen Afridi sent two batters back to the pavilion in his first over. Latham could not score a single run while Willy Young dismissed after hitting one four. An unbeaten 120 runs partnership between Mark Chapman (104 runs not out, 57 balls, 4x11, 6x4) and Jimmy Neesham (45 runs not out, 25 balls, 4x4, 6x2) took their side home in the last over of the match. Imad Wasim and Shaheen Shah Afridi shared two wickets each from the home side, as Afridi conceded 16 runs in his last over, which was an important 17th over of the match. Mark Chapman was judged best player of the match on his remarkable ton.
Summarized Scorecard:
Toss: New Zealand won the toss and decided to field first
Venus: Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Player of the Match: Mark Chapman (New Zealand)
Series: Tie 2-2
Pakistan (Batting) 193 runs for 5 in 20 overs
Mohammad Rizwan (98 runs, 62 balls, 4x7, 6x4), Iftikhar Ahmed (36 runs, 22 balls, 4x3, 6x2), Imad Wasim (31 runs, 14 balls, 4x5, 6x1), Babar Azam (19 runs, 18 balls, 4x3, 6x0)
New Zealand (Bowling)
Blair Tickner (3 for 33), Ish Sodhi (1 for 21)
New Zealand (Batting) Target 194 runs in 20 overs
Mark Chapman (104 runs not out, 57 balls, 4x11, 6x4), Jimmy Neesham (45 runs not out, 25 balls, 4x4, 6x2), Chad Bowes (19 runs, 13 balls, 4x4, 6x0),
Pakistan (Bowling)
Imad Wasim (2 for 21), Shaheen Shah Afridi (2 for 48)
Pakistan (Playing XIs):
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Substitutes:
Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah
New Zealand (Playing XIs):
Tom Latham (captain, wicketkeeper), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young
Substitutes:
Dane Cleaver, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie
Schedule & Results:
April 14, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 88 runs
April 15, 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 38 runs
April 17, 2023: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 4 wickets
April 20, 2023: Called off duo to hailstorm in Pindi Stadium
April 24, 2023: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 6 wickets
April 27, 2023: 1st ODI at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi
April 29, 2023: 2nd ODI at Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi
May 3, 2023:3rd ODI at National Stadium Karachi
May 5, 2023: 4th ODI at National Stadium Karachi
May 7, 2023: 5th ODI at National Stadium Karachi
