In a thrilling encounter, New Zealand emerged victorious in the fourth match of the five-game series against Pakistan, clinching the win by 7 wickets. The match witnessed a remarkable 139-run stand between Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, guiding New Zealand to a successful chase after Pakistan’s bowlers initially limited the visitors to 158/5.
Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips Steer New Zealand to Victory
Pakistan’s skipper, Shaheen Afridi, played a pivotal role in giving his team hope early in the match. Afridi’s exceptional bowling in the opening over saw the dismissals of Finn Allen after conceding two boundaries and Tim Seifert, with Will Young also falling in the third over. New Zealand found themselves struggling at 20 for 3, thanks to Afridi’s early breakthroughs.
However, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips orchestrated a remarkable recovery for New Zealand. The pair’s aggressive batting took New Zealand to 38/3 in the Powerplay and steadily progressed to 70/3 at the halfway mark. The turning point came in a crucial two-over phase, where Mitchell and Phillips changed the momentum of the chase, scoring vital runs against Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Muhammad Nawaz.
In the death overs, Shaheen Afridi returned to the attack with New Zealand requiring 45 runs off 30 balls. Despite Afridi’s efforts, Mitchell and Phillips unleashed a flurry of boundaries, including a six over backward square leg. Haris Rauf’s bowling also faced the onslaught, with the New Zealand batters showing urgency to seal the victory. Zaman Khan’s return in the 18th over saw both Mitchell and Phillips hitting sixes before Mitchell secured the win in the penultimate over.
Mohammad Rizwan shines despite setbacks
Reflecting on the first innings, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan played a crucial role in setting up a competitive total. Rizwan’s aggressive batting in the Powerplay contributed significantly to Pakistan’s score of 158/5. However, the middle order struggled to consolidate after the early wicket of Babar Azam. Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, and Iftikhar Ahmed couldn’t provide substantial support to Rizwan.
Despite the challenges, Rizwan remained defiant, anchoring the innings with valuable contributions from Muhammad Nawaz, who played a nine-ball cameo worth 21 runs. The 19th over, bowled by Milne, saw Rizwan and Nawaz taking 21 runs, providing Pakistan with a competitive total.
In the end, New Zealand’s successful chase was powered by Mitchell’s unbeaten 72 and Phillips’ 70. The fifth and final T20I between the two sides will be played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on January 21. New Zealand already clinched the series and lead the series 4-0. Pakistan have been winless in all formats since the change of the captaincy and will be looking to change their fortunes in the dead rubber.
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