Nothing is going in Pakistan’s senior men’s cricket team’s favor at the moment as the Babar Azam-led side suffered a crushing four-run defeat against lowly New Zealand in the fourth T20I on Thursday. The defeat at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore was their second defeat in as many matches after Pakistan won the second game, while the opening match of the series was abandoned due to rain. The hosts are trailing 1-2 in the five-match series and the final match will be played in Lahore on Saturday.
Pakistan needed 18 runs from the last over to chase the target of 179, but veteran all-rounder James Neesham remained on top despite being hit for a four on the first ball, leaving the home fans heartbroken.
To New Zealand’s delight, Neesham defended six runs on the last ball. In contrast, Pakistani fans were left disappointed as small children started crying after the disappointing defeat.
One of the worst moments in the history of Pakistan cricket
Please don’t cry, baby. shame on us! I can’t breathe at all #PAKvNZ #Not found #HojaoADFree pic.twitter.com/OFAFvM6CH5
– Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) 25 April 2024
It is not easy to be a fan of Pakistan cricket team. I don’t know how many times my heart got broken
Babar Azam Do not lose courage, difficult times will pass#BabarAzam𓃵 , #BabarAzam#PAKvsNZ , #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/xC36RYv9kx– Ariz Butt (Babar fan) (@naeemby186) 25 April 2024
Talking about the match, with the help of Kiwi opener Tim Robinson’s first half-century, New Zealand scored 178-7 in 20 overs, but fast bowler William O’Rourke claimed 3-27 to restrict Pakistan to 174-8. Helped in.
Fakhar Zaman (61) made a 59-run partnership with Iftikhar Ahmed (23) for the fifth wicket, taking Pakistan to 79-4.
However, O’Rourke and Ben Sears took five wickets each to give the visitors an unassailable 2–1 lead.
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell praised his team’s death bowling.
Bracewell said after the match, “It’s a huge positive for us that we’ve been able to expose new guys, we backed Neesham to bowl those tough overs and he was able to bowl out today.”
“I think our last five overs as a bowling unit were particularly impressive,” he said.
New Zealand arrived in Pakistan earlier this month without several players missing the Indian Premier League, due to injuries and unavailability.
Pakistan cricket is going through a period of turmoil after the return of Babar Azam to the captaincy in place of fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi after just one series.
Shaheen lost 0-5 in his captaincy debut against New Zealand.
(With AFP inputs)
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