After opting to bat after winning the toss, Pakistan will be happy with what they have on the board. Chasing 281 on a sluggish track will be a challenge for the visitors and the added pressure of a decider will play on their minds.
It was a rosy start for the visitors as they picked up two wickets inside the first Poweplay. Shan Masood departed for a duck, courtesy Tim Southee, and a rare failure for Babar Azam meant the hosts were struggling. The Pakistani skipper got stumped for the third time this series. After that, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan got together and rebuilt the innings, mixing caution with aggression. Their 154-run stand gave their side the much-needed boost. Once they departed, Pakistan lost their way before a cameo from Agha Salman at the end saw the home side finished on a high.