The hosts Pakistan will be up against New Zealand in the final of the tri-series in Karachi on Friday, February 14. Pakistan shocked South Africa with a successful 350-plus chase to reach the final but New Zealand also have the momentum with two solid wins.
New Zealand and Pakistan will face each other in the fourth T20I today (April 25) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The five-match series is currently locked at 1-1 after the opening game ended in no result due to rain in Rawalpindi. The caravan now moves to Lahore for the last two matches.
Pakistan cricket continues to hog the limelight and this time, it is due to the squad that has been announced for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. The five-match series is set to be played from April 18 to 27 with New Zealand team arriving on April 14.
Pakistan have not played their best cricket at all ever since the World Cup began in India. They won only four matches at the mega event ending their tournament with a loss at the hands of England. However, since then Pakistan have not won a single game in international cricket.
The Blackcaps have already sealed the series in their favour but have the opportunity to register a whitewash with two games to go. The fourth and the fifth T20Is will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
New Zealand have already won the series with wins in first three matches. Pakistan have been extremely poor so far despite winning toss in all matches of the series so far. They have not been able to match the hosts in all three departments but specifically, the bowling attack has disappointed.
New Zealand opener Finn Allen ripped off Pakistan's bowling attack in the third T20I played at the University Oval in Dunedin. He scored a record-breaking 137 runs off just 62 balls with five fours and a mammoth 16 sixes to help New Zealand seal the series with two matches to go.
Pakistan might have lost the five-match series against New Zealand in the first three games itself. But Babar Azam's return to form has been the biggest positive for the visitors. He scored fifties in all matches and has levelled Kohli's world record in the shortest format. Here are more details...
Finn Allen was awarded the Player of the Match (POTM) following his record-breaking knock of 137 off 62 balls. Allen struck a total of five boundaries and 16 sixes during his whirlwind innings.
Finn Allen took just 48 balls to complete his century and became the third-fastest Kiwi batter to score a T20I century. Glenn Phillips (46 balls) and Colin Munro (47 balls) are the fastest and the second-fastest respectively.
Pakistan are 0-2 down in the five-match series and have a last chance to stay alive. Their bowling attack has conceded 226 and 193 runs in two matches so far but apart from Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman (in 2nd game), none of the batters have clicked on this tour yet.
While Daryl Mitchell (61 off 27 balls) was awarded the Player of the Match in the first T20I, it was the young opening batter Finn Allen (74 off 41 deliveries) who walked away with the same award in the second T20I of the series.
Kane Williamson's tryst with injuries continue in 2024 as well. He scored 26 runs off 15 balls in the second T20I against Pakistan before retiring hurt with a hamstring injury. But now he is unlikely to return for the rest of the series with a Test series against South Africa at home coming.
New Zealand took a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 series against Pakistan with a 21-run win in the second match in Hamilton. 195 was always going to be a tough chase but Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman gave the Kiwis a tough fight before falling short.
NZ vs PAK: Babar Azam starred in Pakistan's 2nd T20I against New Zealand as he registered a massive milestone in International Cricket. Pakistan are facing New Zealand in a T20I series at the latter's home. The Kiwis lead the series 1-0 before the second game.
NZ vs PAK: Kane Williamson experienced tightness in his hamstring while batting in the New Zealand vs Pakistan 2nd T20I in Hamilton. Williamson was ruled out of the remainder of the game on precautionary measures. Tim Southee leads for the rest of the game.
The second T20I of the five-match series is set to take place at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. Hosts New Zealand won the series opener by 46 runs as they successfully defended a mammoth total of 226 runs after being invited to bat first.
Pakistan might have lost the first T20I of the five-match series to New Zealand but their former captain Babar Azam played superbly at number three, his new batting position in T20Is. He smashed 57 runs off 35 balls at a strike-rate of more than 160 amist talk around his slow batting.
New Zealand sealed the first T20I against Pakistan with a 46-run win in Auckland on Friday, January 12. The win was set up by the batters as they posted a 226-run total on the board as Pakistan's indisciplined bowling and fielding effort was put under the pump by Daryl Mitchell and Co.
The series will be crucial for both teams keeping in mind the T20 World Cup that is set to take place later this year in the West Indies and the USA. The five-match T20I series is set to commence on January 12 even as Kane Williamson is also set to return for New Zealand.
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