Hasan Nawaz smacks record-breaking maiden ton as Pakistan thrash New Zealand in 3rd T20

Auckland (Web Desk/AFP):  Opener Hasan Nawaz struck a record-breaking maiden century on Friday as Pakistan thrashed New Zealand by nine wickets in the third Twenty20 to keep the series alive.

After scoring a duck in each of the two opening games — the first innings’ of his international career — Nawaz rebounded with a stunning 105 not out in Auckland as the tourists raced to 207-1 in just 16 overs in response to New Zealand’s 204.

The 23-year-old’s ton came off 44 balls, the fastest by any Pakistan player in a T20 international.

It ensured his team reached the target with four full overs to spare, in a stark reversal of form after heavy losses in Christchurch and Dunedin.

Nawaz put his early failures behind him with a sparkling knock featuring shots all around the wicket, including a series of audacious ramp shots.

The right-hander peppered the short Eden Park boundaries with 10 fours and seven sixes, bringing up victory with successive fours off Kyle Jamieson in the 16th over.

The first of those shots took Nawaz to 100, five balls faster than the previous Pakistan record-holder — Babar Azam against South Africa in 2021.

Fellow opener Mohammad Haris scored 41 off 20 while captain Salman Agha was unbeaten on 51 off 31.

Earlier, New Zealand looked well placed after Mark Chapman hit a rapid 94 before they were dismissed in their final over.

 

Chapman dominated after New Zealand were asked to bat, tallying 11 fours and four sixes from just 44 balls faced.

The rest of the home side’s batsmen struggled to get going, aside from captain Michael Bracewell’s 31.

Experienced seamer Haris Rauf bowled Bracewell and finished with Pakistan’s best figures of 3-29.

Game four of the five-match series is in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. The third T20I is being played between Pakistan and New Zealand today, where New Zealand, batting first, has given Pakistan a target of 205 runs to win.

In the match being played in Auckland, the visiting team Pakistan won the toss and invited the host to bat first.

Despite the best efforts of the Pakistani bowlers, the Kiwi team scored 204 runs and the entire team was out in 19.5 overs.

For Pakistan, Haris Rauf took three wickets, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, and Abbas Afridi took two wickets each and Shadab Khan took one wicket.

It is pertinent to note that Abbas Afridi and Abrar Ahmed have been included in the Pakistan team, while Muhammad Ali and Jehandad Khan have been dropped from the team.

The national team includes Muhammad Haris, Hassan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Irfan Niazi, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf.

It is pertinent to note that the host New Zealand has a two-nil lead in the five-match series against Pakistan.