Witness history as Nawaz achieves the fastest T20I century for Pakistan, leading the team to a remarkable nine-wicket victory. Discover the highlights now!
Introduction:
Pakistan’s aggressive batting approach finally paid off as they stormed to a nine-wicket victory against New Zealand, keeping the five-match T20I series alive at 1-2. Hasan Nawaz’s stunning maiden T20I century outshone Mark Chapman’s blistering 94 off 44 balls, helping Pakistan chase down 205 in just 16 overs at Eden Park.
This emphatic win marked Pakistan’s fastest-ever 200-plus chase in T20Is, powered by Nawaz’s record-breaking 44-ball century, the quickest by any Pakistan batter in the format. The team’s revamped opening combination of Mohammad Haris and Nawaz delivered a fiery start, setting the stage for Salman Agha’s steady finishing touch.
Chapman’s Fireworks Propel New Zealand Past 200
Put in to bat first, New Zealand lost Finn Allen for a three-ball duck in the opening over, dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Chapman and Tim Seifert (19 off 9) counterattacked to push New Zealand forward despite the early setback.
Seifert fell to Haris Rauf in the fifth over, but Chapman continued to dominate. He mixed elegant cover drives with brutal pull shots, dispatching Pakistan’s spinners and seamers. His 29-ball fifty was his fourth against Pakistan and his first T20I half-century in nearly a year. See also: Varun Chakravarthy’s 5/42 Powers India Past New Zealand
Pakistan managed to claw back into the game with timely breakthroughs. Daryl Mitchell (17 off 11) miscued a Shadab Khan delivery to Rauf, providing Pakistan with a much-needed breakthrough. However, Chapman remained relentless, smashing 11 fours and four sixes before Afridi dismissed him in the 13th over with a deceptive slower ball.
Pakistan capitalized on the momentum shift, with Rauf and Abrar Ahmed picking up two wickets each in quick succession. Despite this, Michael Bracewell’s 31 off 18 helped New Zealand cross the 200-run mark, finishing at 204/7.
Nawaz and Haris Set Eden Park Ablaze
After two lackluster outings, Pakistan’s new opening duo of Nawaz and Haris finally repaid the selectors’ faith, blasting a 74-run stand in just 35 balls.
Haris wasted no time, launching two sixes off Kyle Jamieson in the opening over before taking on Jacob Duffy for consecutive boundaries. Nawaz, struggling early with his timing, still found streaky boundaries, helping Pakistan equal their fastest team fifty in men’s T20Is (4 overs).
Duffy bounced back to remove Haris for a 20-ball 41 in the sixth over, but Pakistan ended the powerplay at 75/1, their highest-ever powerplay total in T20Is.
Nawaz, who started as the supporting act, took control after Haris’ dismissal. His first authoritative shot came in the seventh over, launching a loopy Ish Sodhi googly over long-on for six. He reached his maiden T20I fifty off 26 balls in the ninth over, pushing Pakistan to 124/1 at the halfway stage.
Nawaz’s Record-Breaking Century Leads Pakistan to Victory
Despite surviving a dropped chance on 68 by Ish Sodhi, Nawaz continued his onslaught. With dew making it difficult for New Zealand’s bowlers, the right-hander capitalized, hammering 10 fours and 7 sixes in a breathtaking display of power-hitting.
While Nawaz attacked, Agha played with precision and smart shot selection, smashing six fours and two sixes. Their unbeaten 133-run stand left New Zealand bowlers clueless as Pakistan raced towards victory.
With 65 runs needed off the final four overs, Nawaz accelerated further, bringing up his century off the penultimate ball of the chase. Pakistan completed the chase in just 16 overs, securing the fastest-ever 200-plus run chase in men’s T20Is.
Key Takeaways from the Match
1. Nawaz’s Redemption in Style
After two consecutive ducks, Hasan Nawaz silenced his critics with a record-breaking 44-ball century, the fastest by a Pakistan batter in T20Is. His innings was a perfect blend of resilience and explosive strokeplay.
2. Pakistan’s New Opening Pair Delivers
With the Rizwan-Babar era behind, the new combination of Nawaz and Haris showed immense promise. Their fearless approach in the powerplay laid the foundation for Pakistan’s historic chase.
3. Chapman’s Brilliance Not Enough
Despite Chapman’s masterclass 94 off 44, New Zealand fell short. Their bowling unit struggled with wet conditions, allowing Pakistan’s batters to dictate the game.
4. Pakistan’s Powerplay Dominance
Pakistan’s aggressive powerplay batting (75/1 in six overs) set the perfect tone. This was their highest-ever powerplay total in men’s T20Is, underlining a new aggressive approach.
5. Series Still Alive
With this commanding victory, Pakistan stays alive in the five-match series, cutting New Zealand’s lead to 1-2. The battle now shifts to the fourth T20I, where Pakistan will look to level the series.
What’s Next?
The two sides will meet again for the fourth T20I in this thrilling series. Can Pakistan maintain this aggressive approach and level the series? Or will New Zealand bounce back?
For now, Pakistan will celebrate a historic chase and a dominant performance, one that could mark a turning point in their new T20 era.