Opening batsman Tim Robinson and fast bowler Will O’Rourke helped an inexperienced New Zealand to a four-run victory over Pakistan in the fourth Twenty20, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. gave.
Robinson, 51, started his career in New Zealand’s part total of 7-178 after Pakistan rested front-line fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah with the aim of testing the strength of their bench. achieved half a century in T20.
O’Rourke, playing in his second T20, scored two goals in the powerplay with key wickets of Babar Azam (5) and Saim Ayub (22), and in his return match, Iftikhar Ahmed (23). was dismissed, restricting Pakistan to 174 for 8. .
O’Rourke finished with economical figures of 3 wins and 27 losses as Pakistan felt without the injured Mohammad Rizwan in their batting order.
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell said: “What we learned from game to game is very important. Fortunately today we were able to play on the right flank.”
“Being able to bring in new players is a big plus for us. We supported (Jimmy) Neesham and bowled hard overs and he was able to get a shutout today.”
Fakhar Zaman, one of the five substitutes Pakistan made from the team that lost the third game by seven wickets, top-scored with 61 off 45 balls but was holed in the deep in the 18th over. He was out and couldn’t bring Pakistan home.
Imad Wasim, playing his first match after coming out of retirement for the T20 World Cup, hit only five runs off Neesham’s last two balls, leaving Pakistan needing 10 runs to win. , remained undefeated with 22 of 11 pitches.
Pakistan were ruled out for the rest of the series with pre-match injuries as Rizwan and Irrfan Khan sustained hamstring injuries in the third match.
New Zealand missed two catching chances in a chaotic power play. Neesham was unable to contain Ayub’s miscatch at square leg and Mark Chapman dropped a regulation catch of Usman Khan (16) at extra cover.
Zaman and Ahmed gave impetus to Pakistan’s chase with a 59-run stand, but both disappeared in the death overs while Bracewell cleverly manipulated the bowlers and went for the big shots.
Earlier, Tom Blundell, who played in the first game of the series after Tim Seifert was sidelined with a sore back, hit an astounding 28 off 15 pitches after stepping up to bat. He showed his mettle by hitting four boundaries and two sixes.
Robinson was caught at the edge of the mid-on boundary shortly after completing his half-century off 34 balls and was dismissed.
New Zealand are touring Pakistan without nine of their T20 frontline players who are busy with the Indian Premier League. The final match of the series will be played in Lahore on Saturday.
