Christchurch: Pakistan won the tri-nation Twenty20 cricket tournament by defeating New Zealand by five wickets. Batting first, New Zealand scored 163 runs for seven wickets. Batting back, Pakistan scored the winning run with three balls to spare.
Apart from New Zealand, Bangladesh also participated in the tournament. The title achievement ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup will boost the morale of the Pakistan team. Muhammad Nawaz’s (38 runs and one wicket without getting out from 22 balls including three sixes and two fours) and Iftikhar Ahmed who scored 25 runs without getting out from 14 balls including one six and four became the foundation for Pakistan’s victory.
The dismissal of opener Muhammad Rizwan (34 off 29 balls), Shan Masood (19 off 21 balls) and captain Babar Azam (15 off 14 balls) put Pakistan in a crisis.
For New Zealand, Michael Bracewell took two wickets and Tim Southee, Blair Tickner and Ish Sodhi took one wicket each. Babar Azam won the toss and left New Zealand to bat. Captain Kane Williamson who scored 59 runs from 38 balls including two sixes and four fours led the team from the front.
Glenn Phillips scored 29 runs including a six and four in 22 balls, Mark Chapman scored 25 runs including a six and two fours in 19 balls and James Neesham scored 17 runs including a six and four in 10 balls. Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf took two wickets each for Pakistan. Shabad Khan and Mohammad Nawaz took one wicket each. Mohammad Nawaz was the star of the match and Michael Bracewell was the star of the series. In the first match of the World Cup on the 23rd, India will be the opponent of Pakistan.
