Rawalpindi (NNP) In a thrilling encounter at Pindi Cricket Stadium, New Zealand showcased their prowess, securing a commanding victory over Pakistan to level the T20 series at 1-1. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, New Zealand’s skipper Michael Bracewell’s decision paid off as they restricted Pakistan to 178 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their allotted overs.
Pakistan’s innings saw notable contributions from Saeem Ayub, Babar Azam, and Shadab Khan, but it was Mark Chapman’s sensational unbeaten knock of 87 runs off just 42 balls that stole the show for New Zealand.
Chasing the target of 179 runs, New Zealand’s batsmen exhibited exceptional skill and determination, reaching the milestone in the nineteenth over with 3 wickets in hand. Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert, Fox Croft, and Chapman led the charge, guiding their team to a well-deserved victory.
Despite Abbas Afridi and Naseem Shah’s efforts with the ball for Pakistan, New Zealand’s batting lineup proved too strong to contain.
Adding intrigue to the match, debutants Zach Foulkes and William O’Rourke made their mark for New Zealand, stepping up in the absence of key players due to illness.
With the series now leveled, both teams are set to head to Lahore for the remaining two matches, promising more excitement and fierce competition on the cricketing field.
