Pakistan vs New Zealand, 3rd T20I at Lahore, PAK v NZ, Apr 17 2023 - Match Result

That's it from ESPNcricinfo's coverage of the third T20I. We hope you enjoyed our watch. Don't forget to join us again on Thursday when these two sides will be back in action at Rawalpindi. Until then, it's goodbye and goodnight from Momin and the rest of the crew.

Tom Latham: It was a great game of cricket. We were pleased to get a competitive total on the board and it's satisfying to get across the line and keep the series alive. I think the whole squad will take a lot of confidence from this match moving forward. What set up the win for us was the three early wickets in the powerplay that I thought pegged them back slightly. Sodhi and Ravindra were superb for us through the middle phases. It was very nice to contribute at the top of the order [on his 64 off 49] and make full use of the powerplay. We pride ourselves on our fielding and keep the bar high everytime we set foot into the middle.

Tom Latham has been awarded the Player of the Match award

Babar Azam: I think we didn't bat well enough tonight. We kept losing wicket at crucial stages because of which the pressure kept building throughout the run-chase. We have kept our batting order flexible [on Iftikhar's demotion tonight]. Iftikhar delivered tonight and Faheem also chipped in with crucial runs. Our bowlers have been superb throughout this series, so far, and they have executed most of the plans.

Presentations coming up, stick around

Tautoru: "Finally NZ wins v Pakistan. That's rare because Pakistan are so good v NZ. Great game, hard fought by both. "

Bob: "Kiwi fan here. Stunning innings from Iftikhar, should be player of the match. Can't fathom why he wasn't batting higher. Very relieved it didn't go to a super over"

Kalpesh : "These are kind of the games till you don't know the result till the last ball country does not matter."

12.55pm: Woof, what an enthralling finish we have had to the match with New Zealand squeezing past Pakistan by a bare margin. Much like their opposition, Pakistan commenced their innings sluggishly. Both Babar and Rizwan were dismissed inside the powerplay and Fakhar and Saim couldn't hang around for long either. Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals throughout the middle overs and looked down for the count at 92/7 after 15 overs. Iftikhar and Faheem then stringed together a brilliant 61-run partnership as they took down the likes of Milne and Neesham to keep them in the game. Iftikhar struck a blistering 24-ball 60 but his herculean effort couldn't carry Pakistan across the line as they fell agonizingly short by 4 runs. Neesham did well to cover up for the injured Lister and to keep Iftikhar at bay in the last over while the spin-bowling duo of Ravindra and Sodhi as well as Milne also chipped in with crucial wickets.

Amir Ali: "Shaheen giving those 5 extra runs and Naseem Shah swinging for 3 balls for nothing where all was just required to tak single and give strike to Iftikhar proved costly, but a well fought match nonetheless."

Anwar: "Brilliant game, but New Zealand the worthy winners. Pakistan didn't deserve to win after leaving their best batsman Iftikhar at the bottom"

Rashid : "Well played iftikhar. Nz were strong to win this until iffy masterclass inning. Congrats to kiwis they put up good show tonight "

5 needed off the last ball

Haris Rauf is the last man in

So, it's down to Iftikhar. Neesham has been handed the ball with Lister off the field. 15 needed off 6. Neesham going round the wicket.

Naseem Shah in now, Pakistan needing 15 off 9

Another twist in this fascinating tale

Henry to bowl his last, Pakistan needing 23 off 12

Pakistan have come roaring back into the contest with a 23-run over

16 runs from the first three

Milne to bowl his last with 46 runs needed off 18