New Zealand’s Finn Allen (L) celebrates after scoring his century (100 runs) during the third Twenty20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan – AFP
- New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 45 runs.
- Finn Allen scored 137 runs off 62 balls.
- Babar Azam scored his third successive fifty.
On Wednesday in Dunedin, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 45 runs to win the Twenty20 International series, led by Finn Allen.
In the third Twenty20 international of the five-match series, New Zealand gave Pakistan a challenging 225 runs to be scored, but Allen hammered 137 runs in 62 balls.
Although Babar Azam hit his third successive fifty of the series with 58 off 37 in reply, it was insufficient to get Pakistan across the finish line.
Pakistan’s pursuit was derailed by a string of wickets, as they lost four players for just 39 runs after reaching 95 for two in the eleventh over.
With two fours and as many maximums, Mohammad Nawaz amassed 28 runs in 15 balls.
In four overs, Mitchell Santner claimed one wicket at a cost of 26 runs, demonstrating his economical bowling.
In the men’s T20Is, Allen put an end to Pakistan with the highest individual score for New Zealand, beating the previous record of 123 established by Brendon McCullum. In men’s T20Is, he also scored the equal-highest number of sixes—16—in one innings.
Haris Rauf, the Pakistani bowler, was heavily hit by the opener, who hit 27 off one over with three sixes, two fours, and a single.
With two games remaining, Allen’s lightning-fast knock put New Zealand in a great position to seal the five-match series and keep their perfect record at Dunedin’s University Oval.
Tim Seifert and Allen put up 125 for the second wicket after Devon Conway was out for seven early. Seifert’s contribution was just 31, as he opted to take singles to keep the in-form hitter on strike.
Allen hit the balls out of the park, forcing the umpires to call for replacements three times.
After being bowled by an off-cutter from Zaman Khan in the 18th over, the opening was eventually removed from the game, and Khan cheered the New Zealand batsman on as he exited the field.
On a miserable day with the ball for Pakistan, Rauf gave up 60 runs in his four overs, while Mohammad Nawaz gave away 44 and Shaheen Afridi 43.
Prior to the match, three changes were made by both teams.
Kane Williamson, Adam Milne, and Ben Sears were replaced by Lockie Ferguson, Tim Seifert, and Mathew Henry.
Pakistan’s starting squad was missing leg-spinner Usama Mir and all-rounder Aamer Jamal, while bowler Abbas Afridi was sidelined with a minor strain to his abdominal wall.
For Pakistan, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Muhammad Wasim Jr. took the place of the aforementioned trio.
The final two games are on Friday and Sunday in Christchurch.
