It's over, Pakistan win! Clears deep square leg and Iftikhar turns away stoically, the Pakistan fans celebrate! It was a length ball outside off that the batter went across to and whipped it away.
Thanks for tuning in. Check out Deiva's report, lots coming ahead with the T20 World Cup starting soon. Let's hope the cricket there will be as entertaining as this. For now, it's goodbye from me, Ekanth, my co-commentator, Ankur Dhawan, and out scorer, Chandan Duorah.
Pakistan lost just one of their five games in the series which is a positive. But showing adaptability to win from a situation where they'd lost Babar and Rizwan in a chase and the asking rate was peaking would make them all the happier. New Zealand have a few gaps to plug but Bracewell's growth, in display today too, and Williamson getting a fifty will help grow the promise.
Ibti: "Pak hit only one six in their 54 overs (last 2 games this) and 6 sixes in last 6 overs"
Gaurav Sundararaman says the win predictor went from 33% from the start of the Sodhi over to 88% at the end.
Munib: "Hoping this game will be remembered for the arrival of Haider Ali! "
usman: "After all that criticism and failure haider Ali has done some justice to his talent that too in a big game. Hopefully this innings will prove to be the one which open door for many other in world cup. May be Pak team again peaking at right time "
Ashraf: "Finaly a game is one by middle order for Pakistan. Hope its one of many to come. "
Rizwan and Co swarm around the skipper and Babar gets the trophy. A second later, the team-mates take it away.
Babar Azam: The way our team played deserves all the credit. The bowlers were brilliant at the death. The way the middle order played was outstanding. Haider and Nawaz are outstanding, so we need to step up and perform. (On the wicket slowing down) It didn't make me change my thoughts about the toss. The wicket played the same too. Going to Australia, we have good confidence.
Kane Williamson: Great game, Pakistan are a strong side, credit to them for turning it around. Frustrated with the loss. You always want 20 more, but it was competitive. The wicket was on the lower side. They came in and changed the momentum well. There's no blame, everyone went with the plan. Execution went wrong, and the margins were small. With batters coming in and all improving the signs are positive ahead of the World Cup.
Michael Bracewell, POTS: Honour to have won the award, disappointed with the loss. I have practised to bowl in the powerplay, am getting used to it. Tough to bowl to Rizwan and Babar but enjoyed the challenge. The role as an offspinner is new and I'm getting used to it. But yeah, the last two overs in both innings ended up causing the loss. I am fortunate with the opportunities and am trying to soak up information from the others, I feel I have more skills now which I'm happy with.
Mohammad Nawaz, POTM: I just backed myself in both days. Tried to display what I'd practised in the nets with a clear mind. Batting in the middle order has helped a lot, backing myself and going with the plan was key. (On the 15th over vs Sodhi) Haider helped with a couple of boundaries in the previous over. We used the wind and got the boundaries against him. The weather has been very cold, was tough to adapt from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. We are looking forward to the World Cup now.
This chase did not follow Pakistan's template of starting steadily, consolidating in the middle overs, and ending on a high. Babar and Rizwan were not in, Bracewell had burgled four economical overs, going for just 14, while picking up two wickets. But the middle order fired, they rocketed. They took on Sodhi, got Tickner and Southee away. Circumnavigated Boult's threat with smart knocking around and deservedly, get the win.
6:20pm: Like in the first innings, Pakistan took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second ten-over period. Haider Ali turned the game around on its head after the Rizwan, whose stability Pakistan often rely on, was dismissed. Nawaz assisted him and continued after Haider left, Iftikhar was steady and took off gradually. He played second fiddle and eventually, cleared the game.
So far, so very good for Pakistan.
Makes room, gets followed with a shortish ball. Helps it across with a pull to deep fine.
Risky single but quick running allows it! It was wide on a length. Chopped off the bottom, into the ground, to point
Tickner to try and defend four for the hosts. Pakistan should do this easily.
"Hello openers! Look. Play like middle order", instructs Naeem Chishti
Iftikhar goes for a single to short third instead. Back of length outside. Slower one, probably sixth of the over. He tried to drive it off the back foot. Got a thick outside edge
Pakistan one hit away from a win.
Length outside off. Looked like a slower one but it's 129 kmph. Iftikhar tries to chop it across but misses.
Smar from Iftikhar who opens the face, guides it past point and gets two! Masood and Naseem in the dressing room look delighted.
Back over
Length outside off. Slower one again. Slashed to cover.
A long chat between Southee and Williamson. He goes around now
Aftab: "The middle order has spoken."
Full outside off, clipped to long-on
They push for two after a misfield at cover and make it! Slower length ball just outside off. Pushed off the back foot, cover dove to the left but could not stop it. Deep cover ran in but they ran quickly.
Brilliant seeing-through from Pakistan. They pinched couples and got a boundary against the strike bowler
Full on off, driven to long-off
Outside edge flies away from the keeper, goes fine! Short third was in. So it's four.
Stat from Sampath: Michael Bracewell vs Pakistan in this T20I Tri-series: 31 runs, 54 balls, 4 wickets, 0 boundaries conceded, 3.44 economy
Short outside off, slapped to wide long-off. They go for two, the batters were in each other's lines while running back but swayed away. Under a run-a-ball needed
Full on the pads, clipped to deep midwicket's left. In the gap, two more.
Wide grubber, on a length. Iftikhar sees it and lets go.
Shahid: "Nawaz has played a blinder again. Since he has been put up the order, he is turning into a genuine all rounder "
Full on the pad, gets away with it. Turned to short fine
Length outside off, chopped to point's right
Boult to finish his spell
FahadMQ : "Matter of 5 balls (5 sixes)." One down, four to go. Mathematically at least
Short, pulled right off the screws! Away into the grass banks. It didn't rise, maybe chest-height at best. Nawaz stayed leg side and slammed it.
Pulls a short ball into the ground, to deep midwicket.
SK Pamiri: "Despite Bracewell's excellent economy of 3.5, the spinners went for 9 an over. This is how poor the other spinner, Sodhi was today." Think they targeted him from the get go. Bracewell's brilliance made it more pronounced and the batters took calculated risks that duly paid off.
Pulls a short ball coming in to deep midwicket.
Length outside off, cut to point
Around
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W |
1W | ||||
Hagley Oval, Christchurch | |
Toss | Pakistan, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2022/23 |
Player Of The Match | |
Player Of The Series | |
Series result | Pakistan won the 2022/23 New Zealand T20I Tri-Series |
Match number | T20I no. 1819 |
Match days | 14 October 2022 - day (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |
Over 20 • PAK 168/5
Pakistan won by 5 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)