Pakistan beat New Zealand in third T20 behind Hasan Nawaz’s ton

AUCKLAND: Pakistan headed into the third T20I against New Zealand on Friday hoping to stop the Black Caps from winning their third straight match and the series. And they did just that, thanks to Hasan Nawaz’s incredible knock that led to New Zealand’s heaviest wickets defeat in T20I history.

But, before Nawaz broke Babar Azam’s record for fastest T20 hundred by a Pakistani batter, it was New Zealand’s Mark Chapman who applied pressure first.

New Zealand’s Innings

The Kiwi’s got off to a rough start as they lost Finn Allen for a duck in the very first over. It was Shaheen Shah Afridi picking up his first wicket on a delivery that turned into Allen’s pads, forcing the New Zealand batter to whip the ball to short fine, where Harris Rauf took an incredible catch.

However, Allen’s replacement, Mark Chapman, got off to an fantastic start, bringing life back into the Kiwi’s batting line-up. He added a quick 40 runs to the total in a partnership with Tim Seifert, before the New Zealand opener was caught out by Agha Salman on a delivery from Rauf. Chapman then added another 55 runs in a partnership with Daryl Mitchell, before the latter was caught out as well by Shadab Khan, on a delivery that gave Shaheen his second wicket.

James Neesham then joined Chapman on the pitch, but not for long. He was dismissed on the seventh ball he faced via lbw on a delivery from Abbas Afridi after scoring only three runs. Chapman on the other hand, was still going strong. That was until the 13th over, when the 30-year-old all-rounder was caught out by Shadab Khan at short third on a delivery from Shaheen, just six runs short of a ton. Regardless, it was an incredible knock, as Chapman made 94 runs off just 44 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and four sixes in the process.

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The Kiwis lost a couple more wickets on the last two balls of the 15th over. Mitchell Hay was sent off first, as he was bowled by Abrar Ahmed after the Pakistani spinner suffered a six at the hands Hay earlier in the over. Abrar took another on the very next ball, dismissing Kyle Jamieson for a golden duck on a delivery that took a thick inside edge before clattering the stumps.

New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell managed to make the second highest score of the innings with 31 runs, before he was bowled by Rauf in the 19th over. Two balls later, Rauf had his third and final wicket of the innings, as Ish Sodhi, who had made 10 runs off 10 deliveries, was caught behind by Mohammad Haris.

The Kiwis’ innings ended on the penultimate ball of the final over. It was Abbas taking his second wicket, as Jacob Duffy hit the delivery to long on where Irfan Khan took an easy catch.

New Zealand set a target of 205 runs for Pakistan.

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Pakistan’s Innings

Despite the imposing target, the men in green had a fantastic start, as Mohmmad Haris and Hasan Nawaz has an opening stand of 74 runs off just 35 deliveries. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Haris’ quick but great knock came to an end in the sixth over, as Duffy’s delivery found a top edge that sent the ball high into the air, before it landed in Mitchell Hay’s hands. Haris made 41 runs off 20 deliveries, hitting four fours and three sixes in the process.

That would be the last wicket Pakistan would lose. Nawaz took over the match after Haris’ dismissal, not allowing Pakistan to lose the momentum they gained. He would bring up 50 runs in the ninth over in emphatic fashion, as he slammed a six over long on.

Alongside Nawaz was Pakistan skipper Salman Agha, who had a fantastic knock as well. He brought up a half century of his own on the first ball of the 16th over. He hit a slew of boundaries, hitting six fours and two sixes.

But the night belonged to Nawaz, as the 22-year-old made up for his previous poor performances in the series that saw him dismissed for a duck in both the previous matches. He completed his first ever international century with the second last shot of the game. It was the fastest T20 hundred by a Pakistani batter. He brought up the milestone in style, hitting his ninth four of the match. He celebrated by hitting the game winning shot on the very next ball with yet another four and his 17th boundary in total. Nawaz ended the game with 105 runs made off just 45 balls.

Together with Agha, the two made a stunning partnership of 133 runs off 61 deliveries.

Pakistan won by nine wickets and with four overs remaining. The series is now two to one in favour of New Zealand. However, if Pakistan continue to play like they did today, they may still come out on top in this five match series. The fourth match of the series will take place on Sunday, March 23 at Mount Maunganui.

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