New Zealand clinches fourth victory againt Pakistan

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand secured their fourth consecutive victory against Pakistan on Friday at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Kiwis emerged victorious when they reached the 159 target with seven wickets and eleven balls to spare.

Opting to bowl after winning the toss, New Zealand restricted Pakistan to a modest 58 runs in the 20 overs.

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Despite a remarkable performance from Muhammad Rizwan, who notched up an impressive 90 runs off just 63 deliveries, the rest of the Pakistani batting lineup failed to capitalise on his performance.

The Kiwis delivered a commendable performance, with Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips scoring a formidable 139-run partnership.

Mitchell’s unbeaten 72 off 44 balls featured seven fours and two sixes. This netted him the Man of the Match award.

Phillips also played a pivotal role, contributing 70 runs off 52 balls which include five fours and three sixes.

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Shaheen Shah Afridi emerged as the lone bowler from Pakistani side to claim three wickets. He conceded 34 runs in his four overs to the opposing side. However, his efforts were overshadowed by New Zealand’s resolute batting display.

The Kiwi bowlers were relentless, with Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson both claiming two wickets each to keep the Pakistani batsmen at bay. Adam Milne also chipped in with a single wicket to stifle Pakistani batsmen.

New Zealand is leading the five-match T20 series with a 4-0 margin.