In a thrilling display of cricket, Mark Chapman orchestrated a remarkable performance by scoring an unbeaten 87 off 42 balls, leading an under-strength New Zealand team to a surprising seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the third Twenty20 International at Rawalpindi. This victory not only silenced the 16,000 spectators gathered on a festive Sunday but also squared the five-match series at 1-1.
Pakistan, having been sent in to bat first, posted a strong score of 178-4, thanks mainly to notable contributions from Shadab Khan, who scored 41, and Babar Azam, who added 37 runs. Despite this, their efforts came up short against a determined New Zealand side.
New Zealand’s innings received a robust start from Tim Robinson and Tim Seifert, who set the foundation with quick scores of 28 and 21, respectively. This swift onslaught was crucial for the visitors, boosting their confidence early in their chase. However, it was the partnership between Chapman and Dean Foxcroft which truly turned the tide in favor of New Zealand. Combining for a 117-run third-wicket stand, they meticulously dismantled the Pakistani bowling attack.
Under the interim captaincy of Michael Bracewell, filling in due to the absence of several key players who were sidelined by Indian Premier League commitments and injuries, the team showed remarkable cohesion. Bracewell lauded the pair’s partnership as exceptional, noting it as a key aspect of their strategy to leverage learnings from previous outings effectively.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, expressed regret over missed opportunities in the field, particularly lamenting dropped catches of Chapman when he was just on 16 and later at 36. Azam acknowledged the setback stating, “When you drop a set batter’s catches then he will take the game away from you,” a lesson bitterly felt as Chapman went on to dominate the bowling lineup.
Chapman’s aggressive inning was punctuated by a barrage of boundaries, including four sixes and nine fours, as he capitalized on the reprieves given by the Pakistani fielders. His spirited assault brought a swift change to the score dynamics, especially during the later overs where he took on Pakistan’s lead bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah with remarkable ferocity, bringing the required run rate down substantially.
New Zealand edged closer to the target with Jimmy Neesham providing support at the other end with an unbeaten six, ultimately reaching their target comfortably with ten balls to spare. Pakistan’s earlier batting efforts, which saw solid knocks and a vigorous end-over push by Saim Ayub and Muhammad Irfan Khan, proved insufficient in light of New Zealand’s aggressive chase.
For New Zealand, the standout bowler was leg-spinner Ish Sodhi who managed to capture 2-25 in his spell, contributing significantly to containing Pakistan’s total.
The teams now look ahead to the remaining two matches of the series scheduled in Lahore, with both sides aiming to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies. As the series continues, the momentum from this match will undoubtedly influence the strategies and confidence of both teams.