NZ VS PA, T20I, Tri-series, final: Pakistan168 for 5 (Nawaz 38*, Rizwan 34, Bracewell 2-14) beat New Zealand 163 for 7 (Williamson 59, Rauf 2-22, Naseem 2-38) by five wickets

In the tri-series final at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Friday, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by five wickets thanks to an audacious attack by Haider Ali and Mohammad Nawaz.

Their stand included hitting 33 in eight balls starting in the 15th over to help Pakistan chase down 164 and offset a power play slowdown. Nawaz and Ifthikar Ahmed finished the game for Pakistan for the second day in a row, even though Haider and Asif Ali ran out of time.

After Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and chose to field first against New Zealand in the tri-series final at Hagley Oval on Friday, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf struck inside the powerplay to dismiss Finn Allen and Devon Conway.

Earlier, Haider Ali and Mohammad Nawaz’s 56-run stand for the fourth wicket was ended in the 16th over when Tim Southee removed Haider Ali. Mohammad Nawaz starred with the bat. Asif Ali was bowled out by Blair Tickner in the very next over, setting up a thrilling conclusion to the match. In the 11th over of the innings, Shan Masood was bowled out by Michael Bracewell, and Mohammad Rizwan was bowled out by Ish Sodhi in the very next over as New Zealand took the lead. Before that, Michael Bracewell took Babar Azam’s wicket in the fourth over of the innings, ending the 29-run first stand.In the preceding tri-series final, skipper Kane Williamson scored 59 as New Zealand defeated Pakistan for 163/7 in 20 overs. Prior, Glenn Phillips was sent back to the pavilion by Mohammad Nawaz in the 12th over, ending a 50-run partnership between Kane Williamson and Phillips. 

Nawaz stepped up and hit an unbeaten 38 off 22 balls in a pinch-hitting role after hitting an unbeaten 45 off 20 balls at No. 4 against Bangladesh on Thursday. 4 once more, giving Pakistan a lot of flexibility for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.

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When Nawaz and Haider came together in the 12th over, Pakistan were 74 for 3.With 2 for 14 in four overs, Michael Bracewell had ended yet another miserable spell. Haider, on the other hand, hit Ish Sodhi’s first ball for six, and he and Nawaz combined to score 25 runs off Sodhi in the 15th over. From that point on, Pakistan could only win their final T20I before the World Cup, which they did by winning.

This trophy is dedicated to all those loyal PCT fans who ruined their sleep schedule & woke up early just to cheer for their team! ♥️
#NZvsPAK #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/h0cj1277Po

— MUSKAN (@Mussskey) October 14, 2022