In the fourth Twenty20 match, New Zealand secured an impressive 115-run victory over Pakistan, thereby clinching the five-match series 3-1. The match highlighted New Zealand’s formidable fast bowling attack, with Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes delivering standout performances to dismantle Pakistan’s batting lineup. The Pakistani team’s追击目标是221，但是只得到了105分，在17局后就失去了比赛资格。
Jacob Duffy excelled, taking 4 wickets for just 20 runs, while Zak Foulkes claimed 3 wickets for 25 runs. This match saw Pakistan experiencing their largest defeat in T20 Internationals by runs, surpassing a previous 95-run loss against New Zealand from nine years ago. The Pakistani opening batsman Hasan Nawaz, who had scored a century in the previous game, was dismissed for just 1 run by Duffy, showcasing New Zealand’s dominance.
Pakistan faced a dire situation, being reduced to 9 runs for 3 wickets in just two overs. It was only the efforts of Abdul Samad, who remained unbeaten with 44 runs, that helped the team avoid setting a new low in T20 Internationals. The only other player to reach double figures was Irfan Khan with 24 runs.
This victory marked New Zealand’s second-largest T20 win by runs, edging close to their 119-run victory over the West Indies in 2018. Earlier, Finn Allen blasted a 50 off just 20 balls, setting the tone for New Zealand’s batting. Captain Michael Bracewell also contributed significantly with an undefeated 46 from 26 balls, showcasing their batting prowess under pressure.
In reflecting on the match, Allen highlighted the challenge of maintaining rhythm when faced with Seifert’s aggressive batting. The New Zealand pacers exploited the swinging and turning conditions under floodlights to outbowl Pakistan, with even the leg-spinner Ish Sodhi contributing by spinning the ball sharply. Pakistan’s captain, Ali Agha, acknowledged the quality of New Zealand’s bowling and the need for his team to perform better in such conditions.
The fifth and final game of the series is scheduled to take place in Wellington on Wednesday.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/3/23/pakistan-suffer-biggest-t20-loss-as-new-zealand-take-3-1-series-lead?traffic_source=rss
