New Zealand Beat Pakistan in Pakistan After Making a Miraculous Comeback: The fifth T20 international match between Pakistan and New Zealand, held on April 24, 2023, in Rawalpindi, resulted in an unbelievable comeback from New Zealand to level the series 2-2, despite trailing 2-0 after two games.
New Zealand won by six wickets, chasing down a target of 194 runs, thanks to Mark Chapman’s unbeaten 57-ball 104 and James Neesham’s unbeaten 45 off 25 balls.
Chapman’s display of magnificently clean hitting against some of the best bowlers in T20 cricket was breathtaking and gave the visitors their 100th T20I win, one that will take pride of place in New Zealand T20 folklore.
The task was made even tougher for the visitors by the depleted nature of their side, with eight first-team players missing owing to IPL duty. Even on the day, victory looked particularly improbable when Imad Wasim struck to remove Daryl Mitchell, leaving New Zealand tottering at 73 for 4 at the halfway mark.
New Zealand Beat Pakistan Loses Again at Home PAK vs NZ Match Report
But Pakistan had not accounted for Chapman, who had been threatening to do this all series. Chapman’s magnificent century, his second in the series, came at the perfect time, and his partnership with Neesham allowed the visitors to turn the contest on its head.
The next five overs saw 71 runs scored, and New Zealand had turned the game around. Chapman took apart each Pakistan bowler, quick and slow, right-arm and left-arm. He smashed Faheem Ashraf for 14 in the 11th over, warning Pakistan that the game – and the series – was not done yet.
By now, Chapman was nearing his hundred, but continued to attack. There was some luck against Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan dropped an easy catch before Afridi dropped him off his own bowling on 98. That allowed him to complete the 100 he so richly deserved.
It was a remarkable comeback from New Zealand, who had arrived in Pakistan from halfway across the world and had just one practice session under their belt when the series began. The victory will take pride of place in New Zealand T20 folklore, as they finish the series level despite trailing 2-0 after two games.
New Zealand Beat Pakistan Loses Again at Home PAK vs NZ Match Report
On the other hand, Pakistan had a good start to the innings thanks to Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. But much like New Zealand had done in almost every match in the series, the bowlers hit back strongly once again.
An off-colour Babar was the first to fall, in the final over of the powerplay, as he miscued an on-side slog. Mohammad Haris came in with two balls left of the powerplay and was eager to make up for lost time, only to misread an offcutter from Blair Tickner and attempt to lap over short fine leg off his first delivery.
Ish Sodhi took a comfortable catch before coming on and dispatching of Saim Ayub with a wrong’un for another duck. Pakistan had suddenly lost three wickets for one run in five balls, and a good Pakistani start had been laid to waste.
Despite losing wickets at the other end, Rizwan provided the start and held the innings through the middle. His 98 not out was impressive, and he had been a run machine for Pakistan in T20Is since 2021, as well as one of their most potent match-winners over the years.
However, his innings was marred by Pakistan’s weird slowdown in the middle overs. They managed just 63 runs in the 10 overs between the end of the powerplay and the 16th over, with the slowest over coming in the 10th when just three runs were scored.
