Pakistan bowled New Zealand out for 92 to win the fifth T20I by 42 runs on Sunday to avoid a clean sweep in the series.
The tourists’ total of 134/8 after choosing to bat looked inadequate as it was their lowest of the series but it proved more than enough and New Zealand only just surpassed its previous lowest total in a T20I at home.
Surprise hero Iftikhar Ahmed thrived on a pitch which gripped and turned as he took 3/24 to play the leading role in the hosts’ downfall. He dismissed Tim Seifert (19), Matt Henry (1), Ish Sodhi (1), took a catch to remove Will Young (12) and played a part in the run out of Mark Chapman (1).
“I just read the wicket, it was turning so I just tried to bowl wicket to wicket and that was the key to success,” Iftikhar, who had only four wickets in 53 matches before Sunday, said through captain Shaheen Afridi who interpreted.
Brief scores: Pak 134/8 in 20 ovs (Md Rizwan 38; T. Southee 2/19) NZ 92 in 17.2 ovs (G. Phillips 26; I. Ahmed 3/24) Pak won by 42 runs.
Harry Brook out of Test series
London: Middle-order batter Dan Lawrence will replace Harry Brook in the England squad for the five-match Test series against India after he returned home because of personal reasons, the ECB said on Sunday.
Brook had travelled to Abu Dhabi for a preparatory camp ahead of the series.
Lawrence, a 26-year-old from Surrey, will join the rest of the squad on Monday before travelling to India. The series begins from Thursday.
“Harry Brook is set to return home with immediate effect for personal reasons... He will not be returning to India,” the ECB said. “The Brook family respectfully requests privacy during this time.”
Brook made his Test debut in 2022 against South Africa while his last appearance in England whites was against Australia at the Oval last July. Lawrence last played a Test in 2022, when he came out against the West Indies.
PTI
