Tim Robinson’s explosive innings with the bat and William O’Rourke’s remarkable spell helped New Zealand lead the series after a four-run win against Pakistan in the fourth T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday. A thrilling thriller that kept the fans on the edge of their seats at the beautiful Gaddafi Stadium and saw the Kiwis take an unassailable lead in the series. The inexperienced fast bowler took an early lead by dismissing captain Babar Azam in the second over. At the other end, Saim Ayub did well but O’Rourke went ahead of him.
Fakhar Zaman raised hopes of victory after Pakistan’s score was 79/4 in the 10th over. He attacked the opposition bowlers to keep the required rate within reach of Pakistan.
Iftikhar Ahmed (23) and Imad Wasim (22*) supported Fakhar as he tried to seal the win for the Men in Green.
Fakhar took Pakistan close to the finish line, but Ben Sears proved to be a game-changer as he dismissed the left-hander in the 18th over.
With 28 runs needed from the last two overs, Imad went on the attack and almost gave the hosts victory. With 10 runs needed from the last two balls, he hit a four on the second last ball, but failed to clear the ball on the last ball, sealing New Zealand’s 4-run victory.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Openers Tim Robinson and Tom Blundell made a positive start to the innings. Both the batsmen completed 50 runs for the Kiwi team in the fifth over.
In the same over, the Kiwis lost Blundell when the team’s score was 56 runs. The wicketkeeper-batsman returned to the pavilion after scoring 28 runs, which included five fours in his innings.
After Blundell’s wicket, Dean Foxcroft came in the middle to bat with Robinson. Both the players made a partnership of 38 runs, but Robinson was out in the 11th over after playing a brilliant inning of 51 runs in 36 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes.
After Robinson was out, left-handed batsman Mark Chapman came to bat with Foxcroft. The visitors crossed the 100-run mark in the 12th over when Chapman took a single off Usama Mir.
At 128 in the 14th over, New Zealand lost their third wicket as Chapman was sent back to the dressing room after scoring just eight runs.
On the score of 132, the team lost the fourth wicket as Foxcroft was out after scoring 34 runs in 26 balls with the help of three sixes.
After Foxcroft’s dismissal, Kiwi captain Michael Bracewell came to bat along with Jimmy Neesham. Both of them made a partnership of 37 runs but the team lost the wicket of Bracewell in the 19th over at the score of 169.
In the same over, the Blackcaps lost the wicket of Josh Clarkson, who was out on the very first ball of the match.
The New Zealand team ended its innings at 178 runs at the loss of seven wickets after completion of 20 overs.
The best bowler for Pakistan was Abbas Afridi who took three wickets for 20 runs in his three over spell. Mohammad Amir, Zaman Khan, Usama Mir and Iftikhar Ahmed took one wicket each in their respective spells.
New Zealand has now taken a 2-1 lead in the series and both the teams will face each other in the final T20 match on Saturday.
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