END OF OVER:
20 | 13 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 174/8 (5 runs required, RR: 8.70)

  • Imad Wasim22 (11b)
  • Mohammad Amir1 (1b)
  • James Neesham2-0-21-1
  • Jacob Duffy4-0-42-0

A close game that kept us on the edge of our seats. New Zealand continue to impress with a young team and are now in a position to win the series. On the other hand, Pakistan are trying different combinations and testing their bench but they got to remember that winning is a habit and they'll need wins to start their World Cup campaign with high spirits. Neesham bowled well in the last over, bringing his experience to the fore and the young pacers rose to the occasion as well which shows New Zealand cricket is headed in the right direction. It's time to bring down the curtain on this game. We'll look forward to your company on Saturday for the final T20I of the series. For now, it's goodbye and goodnight from Rvel Zahid

William O'Rourke, Player of the Match: We are learning together at the moment, trying to get better at every match and it's working well. I think the crowd were very loud out there, it was a very cool experience

Babar Azam, Pakistan Captain: I think we restricted them in bowling really well. We were expecting 190-200 but bowlers stuck to their plans, it was chase able, but we had a batting collapse. We lost three-four wickets in powerplay but Fakhar's innings was outstanding. We wanted to chase it with positive intent but we were unable to do so. When you lose back to back wickets, you need a few overs to catch up but that we got derailed in that period. It was a different surface; we were coming back after a long time, average score is 190 so I think we restricted them well. There were some changes due to injuries but youngsters put in a great effort. Our plan was to give proper opportunity to (test our) bench strength and see where we stand and we wanted to play different combinations. Hopefully we will have the team ready come the time of World Cup.

Michael Bracewell, New Zealand Captain: The way we have learned from game to game is hugely important. Fortunately, we are able to come on the right side today. Pakistan bowlers bowled particularly well at the death. The openers got us ahead of the game. We weren't' able to get to 200 but I think credit to Pakistan bowlers. It's a huge positive for us that we are able to expose new guys, we backed Neesham to bowl those hard overs and he was able to close out today. I think our last five overs as a bowling unit were particularly impressive.

Pete: "Great win. With lots of players injured, with the IPL, and playing county cricket this shows the great depth in NZ cricket. It is time to move on from the likes of Southee, Boult, and Williamson. They've been great servants but shouldn't be picked for the WorldT20."

Badar: "Passion, confidence, and the hunger to outperform your much stronger opposition is what sets apart the Kiwis from their timid headless hosts."

Hassan Nasir: "How many dot balls in this Pakistani innings? I would like to assert the importance of 1s and 2s here, and point out that NZ did take their opportunities in this regard in the middle game? "

GormintAunty: "No one seems to be mentioning the 11 wides..."

Jamal: "iftikhar's innings cost us the match, unbelievable display of fast bowling from NZ "

Salman: "Months of mismanagement and zero continuity has got us here. "

Mazahir: "I think Pakistan has to get back to Babar and Rizwan as an opening pair,"

19.6
1
Neesham to Imad Wasim, 1 run, Wow, Neesham gets the job done. Bowls it full on a tighter line outside off, he scythes it away to deep cover-point and Pakistan fall short of four runs, New Zealand win second match in a row. What a thriller we had which has brought tears in the eyes of some young fans in the aisles, emotions getting better of some spectators. New Zealand live up to their motto and ethos; once again they fought till the very end and edged out Pakistan in their fortress. It was a high intensity tug of war that went right till the last ball

Raj: "Fav song in Pak at the moment must be Jimmy Jimmy Aaja Aaja

19.5
4
Neesham to Imad Wasim, FOUR, Mows this downtown and Pakistan will need six off the last ball! Fuller on off, gets right behind the line and dumped down the ground, he's very strong down the ground, let's see who holds his nerve
19.5
1w
Neesham to Imad Wasim, 1 wide, Bowls it full and it's tailing away from the guideline on off, that'll help Pakistan

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st13Babar AzamSaim Ayub
2nd27Usman KhanSaim Ayub
3rd6Fakhar ZamanUsman Khan
4th33Fakhar ZamanShadab Khan
5th59Iftikhar AhmedFakhar Zaman
6th8Imad WasimFakhar Zaman
7th5Imad WasimAbbas Afridi
8th14Imad WasimUsama Mir
9th9Imad WasimMohammad Amir