{ "id": "143348", "author": "26", "cnmid": "", "title": "Clinical New Zealand Outlast Pakistan To Win 4th T20I", "lang": "en", "series": "587", "cup_year": "2024", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Experienced all-rounder Jimmy Neesham kept his cool to defend six off the last ball to clinch a four-run victory for New Zealand on Thursday in the fourth Twenty20 international against Pakistan in La", "subtype": null, "editor1": "

Experienced all-rounder Jimmy Neesham kept his cool to defend six off the last ball to clinch a four-run victory for New Zealand on Thursday in the fourth Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Lahore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

SCORECARD<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan needed 18 off the last over in their chase of 179 but Neesham came out on top despite being hit for a boundary off the first ball, leaving a packed Gaddafi Stadium crowd heartbroken.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Opener Tim Robinson hit a maiden half-century to lift New Zealand to 178-7 in 20 overs before pacer William O'Rourke claimed 3-27 to help restrict Pakistan to 174-8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Returning all-rounder Imad Wasim (22 not out) could only hit the last ball for a single as New Zealand took an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series with the last game on Saturday, also in Lahore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan lost the third match by seven wickets after winning the second by the same margin, while the first match was abandoned after just two balls -- all three in Rawalpindi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The defeats are a jolt to a full-strength Pakistan side in their preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in the United States and West Indies in June.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n

New Zealand, missing a host of players due to the Indian Premier League, injuries and unavailability, will draw confidence from their strength in depth going into the World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan sensed they were in with a chance when Fakhar Zaman, who hit 61 off 45 balls, lifted Pakistan from 79-4 with a 59-run stand for the fifth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed (23).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

But O'Rourke, playing only his fourth T20I, dismissed Ahmed to add to his wickets of Babar Azam (five) and Saim Ayub (20) to boost New Zealand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Fellow pacer Ben Sears (2-27) claimed Zaman's wicket with 33 needed off 14 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

- 'Hard overs' crucial -<\/p>\r\n\r\n

New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell praised his team's bowling in the final overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It's a huge positive for us that we are able to expose new guys, we backed Neesham to bowl those hard overs and he was able to close out today," said Bracewell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I think our last five overs as a bowling unit were particularly impressive."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pakistan skipper Azam rued the loss of wickets at crucial points.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"We wanted to chase it with positive intent but we were unable to do so," said Azam. "When you lose back-to-back wickets, you need a few overs to catch up but we got derailed in that period."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Earlier, Robinson batted with aggression as his 36-ball 51 lifted New Zealand -- who were sent in to bat -- to 93-1 in 10 overs before Abbas Afridi's career best 3-20 pulled Pakistan back into the contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

New Zealand started briskly with Robinson and Tom Blundell, who made 28 off 15, putting on 56 for the opening stand in five overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

But from 94-1 New Zealand lost three wickets, including that of dangerman Mark Chapman for eight, as Pakistan's fielders held catches to back some good bowling by Abbas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Dean Foxcroft chipped in with 34 off 26 deliveries and Bracewell added 27 to keep the scoreboard ticking as New Zealand managed 43 in the last five overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Also Read: <\/b> Join Our WhatsApp Channel For World Cup Updates<\/a><\/p>

Pakistan were forced to make five changes as wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and Muhammad Irfan Khan were injured while they rested Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pakistan-vs-New-Zealand-4th-T20I-Scorecard.jpg", "alt_img": "Pakistan vs New Zealand 4th T20I Report", "alt_title": "New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2024", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Clinical New Zealand Outlast Pakistan To Win 4th T20I On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Experienced all-rounder Jimmy Neesham kept his cool to defend six off the last ball to clinch a four-run victory for, Clinical New Zealand Outlast Pakistan To Win 4th T20I.", "seo_keywords": "New Zealand Tour Pakistan 2024, Pakistan Vs New Zealand 4th T20I Report", "tag": null, "tagging": "New Zealand Tour Pakistan 2024", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "clinical-new-zealand-outlast-pakistan-to-win-4th-t20i", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "1995", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2024-04-26 07:29:47", "updated": "2024-04-26 07:29:47", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "New Zealand Tour Pakistan 2024, Pakistan Vs New Zealand 4th T20I Report", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2024-04-26 07:29:47", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/clinical-new-zealand-outlast-pakistan-to-win-4th-t20i-143348" }