4th T20: NZ beat Pakistan by seven wickets

Christchurch: New Zealand got off to a disappointing start in chasing Pakistan's target of 159 runs in the fourth T20I of the five-match series.

The two teams face each other at the Hagley Oval Cricket Ground in Christchurch.

Pakistan's innings

Saeem Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan opened the innings on behalf of Shaheen but Saeem failed this time as well and was caught at slip for just one run in the second over.

Pakistan's second dismissed player was Babar Azam who was dismissed for 19 runs on a total of 56, Fakhar Zaman was also dismissed for 88 runs scoring nine runs off 15 balls.

Sahibzada Farhan, who joined the team in place of Azam Khan, also proved to be the guest of two balls and got out after scoring one run.

On the one hand, wickets continued to fall, but on the other hand, Mohammad Rizwan continued to advance the team's score through responsible batting and completed his half-century. At a total score of 126, Iftikhar Ahmed played an innings of 10 runs off 14 balls and lost the wicket. 

Mohammad Rizwan scored 90 runs off 63 balls and Mohammad Nawaz scored 21 runs off nine balls.

At the beginning of the match being played in Christ Church, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat first.

On the occasion of the toss, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said: “We too would have decided to field first after winning the toss, changes are being made in the team to prepare for the World Cup”.

Pakistan squad

A change has been made in the Pakistan team for today's match, Sahibzada Farhan has been included in the team in place of wicketkeeper batsman Azam Khan.

The Pakistan team includes Shaheen Afridi (c), Muhammad Rizwan (vc), Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz, Wasim Jr., Haris Rauf and Zaman Khan.

With New Zealand holding a decisive 0-3 lead in the series, Pakistan needed to win the remaining two matches to avoid a second whitewash of the year.

It is pertinent to note that in the first match of the series, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 46 runs, while in the second match too, the Kiwis won by 21 runs. In the third T20, Pakistan was defeated by 45 runs due to the brilliant batting of Finn Allen. 

A loss in the fourth T20 match will take the national team very close to their second whitewash of the year, having previously lost the Test series 0-3 to Pakistan.