Mount Maunaganui: The green shirt suffered its biggest T20 loss in terms of runs against all countries on Sunday, as New Zealand hovering the 115 -run win at Bay Oval to command, sealing the five -match series with a game.
Chasing a difficult target of 221, Pakistan dropped out of 105 in 16.2 overs, handing New Zealand a 3–1 lead from the end of the series in Wellington on Wednesday.
Disadvantage crossed Pakistan’s previous worst T20i defeat-a 95-rran dhabbing, New Zealand in Wellington in 2016.
Tourists made a disastrous start, stumbled 9-3 inside two overs and then 56-8 on half the way. New Zealand’s Seamers Jacob Dafi and Zak Folks wreaked havoc under Fludlights, shared six wickets between them, exploiting important movement with the ball.
Irfan Khan Niazi (24) was only Pakistan’s top-order batsman to reach the double figure, as prominent players Mohammad Haris (2), Salman Ali Aga (1), Shadab Khan (1), and Khushdil Shah (6) fell cheaply.
Abdul Samad (44 on 30th) ensured that Pakistan avoided its lowest T20I total 74 (against Australia in 2012) and crossed their worst score against New Zealand -91 in the first match of the series.
After Dafi rejected Shaheen Shah Afridi to complete his impressive 4-20 spell, Shaheen Shah was the last person stumping by Michelle Hey from Michelle Hey.
New Zealand’s innings was run by Finn Ellen, which broke the blistering 50 off just 20 balls, giving him the Player of the Match award. Alan’s explosive initial was the 19-ball half-century, as he and the opening partner Tim Safart (22 to 44) held a fast 59 runs at a stand.
Captain Michael Bracewell later scored 46 off 26 balls to pursue Black Caps 220-6.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was a standout bowler, from 3–27 to 3–27 out of his four overs at the rate of 6.75, while the rest of the attacks struggled, won in 10 runs per over.
