New Zealand and Pakistan faced off in the third and final T20I of their series at McLean Park in Napier. The match was crucial as it would determine the outcome of the series. New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first. This article will provide a detailed analysis of the match and explore the key moments that led to the result.
Background
New Zealand had already won the series by winning the first two matches, while Pakistan was looking to avoid a whitewash. Both teams made changes to their lineups, with Pakistan bringing in Sharjeel Khan and Hasan Ali and New Zealand bringing in Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips.
New Zealand's Innings
New Zealand got off to a solid start with Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert opening the batting. They put on a 44-run partnership before Guptill was dismissed by Shaheen Afridi. Seifert, who had struggled in the first two matches, found his form and scored a quickfire 35 off 20 balls. Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips also played their part and helped New Zealand post a challenging total of 173 for 7.
Pakistan's Innings
Pakistan got off to a disastrous start, losing their first three wickets for just 13 runs. Shaheen Afridi, who had impressed with the ball in the previous matches, was sent in as a nightwatchman and played a crucial knock of 12 runs off 13 balls. However, Pakistan's middle order failed to deliver, and they were eventually bowled out for 134.
Key Moments
There were several key moments in the match that influenced the outcome. Here are a few of them:
Tim Seifert's Form
Tim Seifert had struggled in the first two matches, scoring just 16 runs in two innings. However, he found his form in the final match and scored a quickfire 35 off 20 balls. His innings provided the impetus that New Zealand needed and helped them post a challenging total.
Pakistan's Top-Order Collapse
Pakistan's top order collapsed, losing their first three wickets for just 13 runs. This put them on the back foot and made it difficult for them to chase down the target.
Shaheen Afridi's Nightwatchman Role
Shaheen Afridi, who had impressed with the ball in the previous matches, was sent in as a nightwatchman. He played a crucial knock of 12 runs off 13 balls and helped Pakistan avoid a total collapse.
New Zealand's Bowling Performance
New Zealand's bowlers put in clinical performance and picked up wickets at regular intervals. Ish Sodhi was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets for 24 runs.
Conclusion
New Zealand won the match by 39 runs and completed a clean sweep of the series. They put in a solid all-round performance and deserved to win. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance and will need to regroup before their next series.