New Zealand's disciplined bowling attack, led by Will O'Rourke and Ben Sears, proved too strong for Pakistan in the third T20I in Lahore, securing a four-run victory and a 2-1 series lead.
Chasing 179, Pakistan lost early wickets and struggled to keep up with the required run rate. Fakhar Zaman's spirited 61 kept Pakistan in the hunt, but his dismissal and that of Iftikhar Ahmed in consecutive overs sealed their fate. Imad Wasim's late surge kept the game alive, but Jimmy Neesham's tight final over denied Pakistan the victory.
Earlier, New Zealand had posted 178 for 7, thanks to Tim Robinson's explosive 51 and Tom Blundell's quickfire start. Pakistan's bowlers, particularly Abbas Afridi, fought back in the middle overs, but New Zealand's bowlers held their nerve in the end.
Abbas Afridi impressed with his accurate bowling, taking 3 for 20, while Shadab Khan made a stunning catch in the field. Sears and O'Rourke, both making their T20I debuts for New Zealand, played a crucial role in restricting Pakistan's scoring and taking key wickets.
Tags: #Cricket, #T20I, #Pakistan, #NewZealand, #WillO'Rourke
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