MOUNT MAUNGANUI: The fourth T20I between Pakistan vs New Zealand ended in a heavy blow for the visitors as the Kiwis crushed Pakistan by 150 runs. With this massive win, New Zealand secured an unassailable lead in the series. Pakistan, chasing a mammoth target of 221, collapsed miserably and got bowled out for only 105 runs in just 17 overs.
In the Pakistan vs New Zealand clash, the Men in Green had a disastrous start. Within the first five overs, Pakistan had already lost four wickets and stood at a fragile 34-4. The top-order batters completely failed to perform under pressure.
None of the top seven batters could even reach double digits—except Irfan Khan Niazi. He tried to fight back with a quick 24 off 16 balls. Other than Irfan, no player showed resistance in this crucial game. The team crumbled against disciplined bowling by the hosts.
Openers Mohammad Haris and Hassan Nawaz departed early, scoring just 2 and 1 run respectively. Captain Salman Ali Agha followed soon after, scoring only 1. Shadab Khan also failed and managed just a single run. The middle-order didn’t fare any better. Khushdil Shah added six runs, while Abbas Afridi scored only one.
New Zealand’s bowlers delivered a dominating performance. They kept Pakistan under pressure from the start. At the halfway mark, Pakistan was already deep in trouble.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan had a promising start with the ball. Their bowlers managed to trouble the hosts in the initial overs. But the Kiwis responded strongly with aggressive batting later in the innings.
Michael Bracewell and Daryl Mitchell stitched together a solid 50-run stand. Their partnership shifted the momentum back in New Zealand’s favor. Mitchell was eventually dismissed thanks to a joint effort from Haris Rauf and Irfan Khan. Rauf ended the innings with three wickets to his name.
The Black Caps posted a formidable total of 220 for 6. The Pakistan vs New Zealand game started with the visitors winning the toss. Captain Salman Agha opted to bowl first, a move that aligned with the earlier matches where chasing teams had the upper hand.
However, this time, the plan failed. The target proved too big and the batting unit collapsed under pressure. The Pakistan vs New Zealand fixture turned out to be a one-sided affair as the home team completely outplayed the visitors in all departments.
The crushing loss exposed major weaknesses in Pakistan’s batting lineup. It also highlighted the sharp contrast in performance between both teams. The Pakistan vs New Zealand series now clearly belongs to the hosts, with their dominance firmly established.
