Pakistan vs New Zealand, 5th T20I - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: New Zealand tour of Pakistan, 2023 Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi Date & Time: Apr 24, 09:00 PM LOCAL
PAK 193/5 (20)
NZ 194/4 (19.2)
New Zealand won by 6 wkts
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Mark Chapman
PLAYER OF THE SERIES
Mark Chapman

And that is it! NZ have picked up a memorable win. The world might be going gaga over a few IPL games which have been really close and keenly contested. But this series has been a dark horse. It produced a thriller when Iftikhar almost won it for Pakistan in the third T20I and today Chapman played out of his skin to win it for the visitors. We hop to the ODIs now. See ya soon!!!

Tom Latham: Someone plays an innings like that! One of the best innings that we have watched live. I am not sure what they talked about. They absorbed some pressure when they started off. Chappy played a fantastic innings. The work Neesham did was superb as well. It was about to improve game to game. We wanted to keep getting better. We tried to communicate what works and what doesn't. Different guys took opportunities at different times. 2-2 is a positive. Unfortunately, Chapman is flying back. It would be a tough series. The ODI series would be no different.

Babar Azam: The way we started, we wanted to get to 190. The way Rizwan-Iftikhar batted we thought, they could get us to 200 plus. We were 15 runs short in the end. Iftikhar, the way he batted and dominated has been good. He has performed in tough situations. Imad did well with the bat. He was doing well in the PSL. Great to have him back as he always was a good bowler. The way we gave opportunities to the youngsters was a positive. We also understood where we stand and what we need to work on. Credit to Chapman. He was unstoppable. He gave us one chance but that was it. As a professional, you don't have much time to think. You need to focus for the ODIs. We would look to win it.

Mark Chapman, Player of the Match and Player of the Series: We are happy to have done the job today. We were 1-2 going into this game. It sort of took a little bit of adjusting as the series. To finish 2-2 is a great result. Remembering to watch the ball till the end. Jimmy came in and started hitting the ball so well.

Pakistan are known for their strength in the bowling department but they were very loose. Rauf, Afridi, Shadab were all well below par. This win will be rejoiced for long in New Zealand. Pakistan just weren't able to do anything wrong in the first two games but it has spiralled down for them since then. They will have to answer a few tough questions going forward because they fielded pretty much their strongest possible side.

00:33 Local Time, 19:33 GMT, 01:03 IST: There were two phases in the game. One which happened before Chapman came into bat. Pakistan seemed invincible when they started their innings. They got off to a good start. Rizwan scored a meaty 98. Pakistan managed 193 and 3-1 looked almost certain. And the belief for the hosts was fortified further when the visitors were reduced to three down in the first four overs. But then Chapman entered the scene and ran a rampaging show. He was on a mission and was pure carnage from the southpaw. Neesham gave him good company and together they added 121 in less than 10 overs to win it for NZ. NZ have come behind in this series to make it 2-2. They might have had bigger feats away from home. But this will rank right up there as they fielded a very young side and still have managed to draw the series against a very strong Pakistan side.

19.2

Faheem Ashraf to Chapman, 2 runs, and that's it. This is a superb win. A huge win for NZ away from home and they draw the series 2-2. This is their 100th win in T20Is. And it couldn't have come in a better cause. That was a length delivery, angled in, Chapman used his brains to nudge it down. They always wanted a second and came back for it as the bowler failed to slide and stop it in time. Chapman is the man of the hour!!!

19.1

Faheem Ashraf to Neesham, 1 run, and two needed now. Fitting Chapman will be on strike. Neesham scampered through after inside-edging the length delivery which darted in. The keeper failed to cut off the single. Two runs more and NZ will win this

Faheem Ashraf [1.0-0-14-0] is back into the attack

18.6

Haris Rauf to Neesham, 1 run, back of a length delivery kicks up on the batter. The batter fails to control the pull and almost chips it down to deep mid on a few bounces for a single. The game does go into the last over but NZ need only 3 to win. No more twists? Right?

18.5

Haris Rauf to Chapman, 1 run, and one more four will do it. Clubs a length delivery down to long-on for a single. Failed to pierce the gap there

18.4

Haris Rauf to Neesham, 1 run, 5 needed now. Fuller ball, drilled but the man at mid-off did well to stop it. NZ want to finish this off in this over

18.3

Haris Rauf to Chapman, 1 run, fuller ball, outside off, Chapman cue-ends it down to long-on for a single

18.2

Haris Rauf to Neesham, 1 run, backs away and stabs the ball down into the off-side for a single

18.1

Haris Rauf to Neesham, FOUR, dropped short and Neesham isn't missing out on the fun either. Stays back and thumps the pull past fine leg for a four. He has moved to 41 as well

Haris Rauf [3.0-0-30-0] is back into the attack

17.6

Shaheen Afridi to Chapman, 2 runs, and that's a 100 for Chapman! This has been a champion knock by Chapman. That was a short of length delivery outside off, the batter looks to pull and mistimes it. Gets a top-edge and the bowler running back fails to grab it. That landed just over him. Chapman has been sensational. He has single-handedly turned it around for his team

17.5

Shaheen Afridi to Chapman, 2 runs, highish full toss, calls for two and gets two. What a knock this has been. 14 needed for NZ now as Chapman just nudged it off the pads into the on-side with soft hands

17.4

Shaheen Afridi to Chapman, FOUR, straight down the ground for a four. Moves to 96 now. That was fuller, Chapman stays his crease and drives it down the ground past the bowler for a four. Superb timing again. Only 16 needed now. NZ's game to lose for sure...

17.3

Shaheen Afridi to Chapman, no run, length delivery outside off, Chapman backs away and mistimes the shot back to the bowler

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