Pakistan vs New Zealand 2023

'NZ ki school team ne Pakistan ko haraya' - Fans make fun of Pakistan as they lose to New Zealand in thrilling 3rd T20I

New Zealand beat Pakistan by four runs to make the series 2-1 in a thrilling third T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

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Akshay
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NZ vs PAK

NZ vs PAK (Image credit: Twitter)

NZ vs PAK NZ vs PAK (Image credit: Twitter)

New Zealand survived an Iftikhar Ahmed storm to win the third T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday, keeping them alive in the five-match series. After winning the first two matches, Pakistan was almost there to secure the series with Iftikhar playing a blinder in the last overs, but NZ all-rounder James Neesham remained calm in the final over and guided his team to a four-run win and make the series 2-1.

After restricting a depleted New Zealand team to a modest score of 163, Pakistan suffered an early setback when chasing, losing the in-form skipper Babar Azam for 1 run in the second over. Babar's partner Mohammad Rizwan also had a bad day at the office as he was dismissed for 6 runs in the fourth over. The Kiwi pacers were on the money as they picked up wickets frequently to put the hosts under severe pressure.

The hosts suffered a massive batting collapse as they were reduced to 88-7 in the 15th over. When it appeared that they would be out with a low score, 32-year-old Iftikhar brought them back into the game with a magnificent knock. The right-hander made a brilliant partnership with Faheem Ashraf (27 off 14) and took his team to 149/8 before the latter was dismissed in the 19th over.

Neesham held his nerve to pull off an incredible win

With 15 runs needed in the last over, Iftikhar hit a six off the first ball and a four off the third ball to make the equation five off three balls. Neesham held his nerve and delivered his fourth ball to dismiss the dangerous batter, dashing the Pakistani hopes. Iftikhar's incredible innings, and thus Pakistan's, came to an end when he was dismissed for 60 off 24 balls. The medium bowler took his third wicket of the innings, dismissing Haris Rauf with the final delivery of the game, and Pakistan were bowled out for 159.

Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand lost the wicket of opening batter Chad Bowes in the third over. However, his partner and NZ stand-in captain Tom Latham steadied the ship until the 17th over, scoring 64 off 49 balls. Daryl Mitchell, who scored 33 runs off 26 balls, was the next highest scorer for the visitors, as the rest of the batters failed to resist. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf took two wickets each for Pakistan.

Here's how fans reacted to PAK vs NZ match:Β 

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