New Zealand overcame a sensational cameo from Iftikhar Ahmed to register a narrow four-run victory in the third T20I in Lahore on Monday, April 17. Tom Latham compiled a 49-ball 64 while Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman came up with useful contributions down the order to help New Zealand to 163/5. Adam Milne dismissed the in-form Babar Azam for the second time in the T20I series.
Pakistan were tottering at 88/7 in the chase before Iftikhar showed the stomach for a fight, scoring a sensational 24-ball 60 which included six maximums. With 15 required off the final over, the hosts remained in the hunt as Iftikhar struck a six and a four off James Neesham. But his dismissal off the fourth ball and Haris Rauf’s wicket off the ultimate delivery meant that Pakistan fell short.
Brief scores: New Zealand 163/5 in 20 overs (Tom Latham 64, Daryl Mitchell 33; Haris Rauf 2-31) beat Pakistan 159 in 20 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 60, Faheem Ashraf 27; James Neesham 3-38) by 4 runs.
Pakistan are 54-4 at the halfway mark of the chase 🏏#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/wWpgUzABap
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 17, 2023
