PAK vs NZ: New Zealand beat Pakistan in the thrilling third T20I, keeping hopes of winning the series alive

Thanks to the strong performance of Tom Latham (64) and the bowlers, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 4 runs in the third T20 International match on Monday. In the match played at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, New Zealand batted first and scored 163 runs losing 5 wickets in 20 overs. In response, Pakistan's team was all out for 159 runs.

New Zealand has kept their hopes of winning the series alive with this win. The hosts are currently leading 2-1. The fourth T20 International match between the two countries will be played on Thursday.

Iftikhar Ahmed's innings went in vain

Chasing the target of 165 runs, Pakistan got off to a bad start. Adam Milne got Captain Babar Azam (1) caught out by Ravindra. Soon Mohammad Rizwan (6) was run out. Pakistan had lost their 5 wickets on the score of 55 runs. Fakhar Zaman (17), Saim Ayub (10), and Imad Wasim (3) were dismissed in quick succession.

Pakistan's tension increased further when Shaheen Afridi (6) and Shadab Khan (16) also sat in the dugout. Then Iftikhar Ahmed (60) and Faheem Ashraf (27) shared a 61-run partnership for the eighth wicket to bring back Pakistan and make the match thrilling. Matt Henry broke the partnership by getting Ashraf out and caught by Mitchell.

Excitement crossed the limits in the last over

Pakistan needed 15 runs in the last over with two wickets remaining. James Neesham bowled the last over for the Kiwis. Iftikhar hit a six off the very first ball. The second ball was a dot. On the third ball, Iftikhar hit the left side of the long off for a boundary. On the fourth ball, Neesham got Iftikhar out and caught by Mitchell.

Iftikhar Ahmed scored 60 runs in 24 balls with the help of three fours and six sixes. Harris Rauf could not score on the fifth ball. Rauf's Bowes was caught on the last ball and thus New Zealand became the winner.

James Neesham took three wickets for New Zealand. Adam Milne and Rachin Ravindra got two wickets each. Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi got one wicket each.

Tom Latham played the captaincy innings

Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat, New Zealand scored 163/5 in 20 overs. Shaheen Afridi bowled Chad Bowes (7) and gave the first blow to New Zealand. From here Tom Latham (64) and Will Young (17) added 36 runs for the second wicket. Shadab Khan gave Pakistan another success by getting Young caught out by Fakhar Zaman.

Then Latham shared a 65-run partnership for the third wicket with Darryl Mitchell (33) to take the Kiwi team to a respectable score. Shaheen Afridi broke this partnership by getting Mitchell caught by Fakhar Zaman. Harris Rauf hunted Captain Latham and James Neesham. Latham scored 64 runs in 49 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes.

Shaheen Afridi and Harris Rauf got two wickets each from Pakistan. One wicket came in the account of Shadab Khan.

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