NZ vs PAK: Shaheen Afridi records 1st victory as captain, Pakistan snap 7-match losing streak, win 5th T20I by 42 runs but lose series 1-4

In a turnaround after a series of defeats, Pakistan's cricket team found a reason to celebrate after their challenging tour, successfully defending a score of 134 runs to win the final T20I against New Zealand by 42 runs on January 21, thereby reducing the series margin to 4-1. Pakistan's captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, predicted the pivotal role of spin on the worn Christchurch pitch at the toss, and his foresight was spot on.

The trio of Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and Usama Mir played a critical role, claiming six wickets collectively, which led to New Zealand being restricted to 92. This score marked New Zealand’s second-lowest total ever on their home turf.

In the first innings, Pakistani star batter Mohammad Rizwan (38 runs off 38 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (33 runs off 16 balls) each contributed scores in the 30s. However, the team struggled overall on the challenging two-paced track, ending their 20 overs at 134/8. New Zealand commenced their chase with promise but soon faced a dramatic collapse during the middle overs, a testament to the effectiveness of Pakistan’s spin attack.

Iftikhar Ahmed was particularly impressive, claiming 3 wickets for 24 runs, and he was well-supported by Nawaz and Mir, who both delivered economical two-wicket hauls. This collective effort by the Pakistani spinners played a crucial part in dismantling the New Zealand batting lineup, leading to their all-out in just 17.2 overs.

Meanwhile, New Zealand won the first T20I by 46 runs, the second match by 21 runs, the third fixture by 45 runs and the 4th T20I by seven wickets.

The Pakistan cricket team was under tremendous pressure to secure some positive results as their horrendous run of form had extended to seven matches. Pakistan came to New Zealand after losing the three-match Test series against Australia by a 0-3. 

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