Fit File – PAK vs NZ 4th T20I, April 25, 2024

New Zealand 178 for 7 (Robinson 51, Foxcroft 34, Abbas 3-20) beat Pakistan 174 for 8 (Fakhar 61, O’Rourke 3-27, Sears 2-27) by way of 4 runs

Pakistan saved the sport alive until the very closing ball, although, because of Imad Wasim. A cagey ultimate over from Jimmy Neesham, by which he needed to shield 18, ended with Pakistan desiring six of the overall ball, and a scythed blow at the back of level used to be no longer sufficient to drag off the heist.

New Zealand did lose their manner on the dying as Imad and Amir did smartly, however the potency in their bowlers showed that they’d submit with reference to sufficient to stay Pakistan at bay.

Abbas Afridi makes his case

Pakistan rung within the adjustments within the fast-bowling division, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah each lacking out. In got here Amir, however it used to be Abbas who stood out, bowling probably the most hardest overs and coming away with each credit score and wickets. After a primary over the place New Zealand focused him within the powerplay, he returned and equipped a direct much-needed step forward because the explosive Robinson miscued him into the night time sky.

For some explanation why no longer known as upon for his complete quota, Abbas’ ultimate over – the penultimate one of the most innings – used to be the select of the bunch. A mixture of cutters, laborious lengths and best yorkers noticed Abbas take two and concede simply 5 as New Zealand persisted to be dragged again. Abbas’ figures of three for 20 in all probability left Babar Azam questioning why he hadn’t used him for the overall 4.

Shadab Khan takes a stunner

It is in all probability on-brand for Shadab Khan’s recognition as an allrounder that in spite of no longer bowling a unmarried supply for the primary time in a finished T20I innings, he used to be chargeable for essentially the most spectacular Pakistan contribution within the box. It came about within the 14th over of the New Zealand innings, when Mark Chapman – Pakistan’s bete noire on excursions like those – slapped one over the pinnacle of vast mid-off. Or so he idea. Shadab moved to his left and flung himself into the air with feline-like lethality. The velocity of the ball knocked his proper hand off as he held directly to it along with his left. It took a disbelieving crowd a couple of moments to sign up what had took place, however it hampered New Zealand’s death-overs push.

Sears and O’Rourke dangle their very own

There is a Tremendous Damage really feel to the New Zealand squad in Pakistan, and that used to be specifically true of the seam-bowling duo of Sears and O’Rourke. Sears had performed ten T20Is prior to this excursion whilst O’Rourke used to be but to make his debut, however the pair used to be instrumental in halting Pakistan’s early fee from the get-go.

Whilst Pakistan focused Jacob Duffy, O’Rourke struck in his first over, drawing Babar into a canopy power, and the additional leap noticed him paddle it to cover-point at the complete.

He additionally disregarded the opposite opener, Saim Ayub, who used to be put down within the first over.

Sears saved New Zealand plugging away as he prised out Usman Khan to go away Pakistan in bother. The pair’s talent to stay the runs quiet on the similar time allowed Michael Bracewell to show to them each time force had to be carried out, a motif that persisted throughout the innings. The pair used to be introduced later, and gave their captain the wickets of Iftikhar and Zaman to kill the sport off, combining for figures of 8-0-54-5.