Test matches occurred between Pakistan and New Zealand from 18 to 27 April. The T20 series ended in a tie as the first match couldn’t happen due to rain, and both teams won 2 games each.
Let’s discuss each match of the T20 series and analyze key players and game performances so we can judge which points the team is lacking and how teams will perform in the T20 World Cup 2024. Check out Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 Series Analysis.
1st T20I: Called-off
The first match was called off due to rain after 2 overs completed. The match was held on 18th April at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
2nd T20I: Pakistan Won
Scorers
Pak: 92/3
NZ: 90
Match Date: 20th April
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
The match started with Pakistan winning the toss and decided to field. Everyone was excited for the match as the first one was washed out due to rain. Pakistan won the match by 7 wickets.
Top Performers
Pakistan: Muhammad Rizwan was the top scorer with 45 runs, and Shaheen Afridi took 3 wickets for 13 runs.
New Zealand: The top scorer was Mark Chapman, who scored 19 runs, and the best bowler was Benjamin Lister, who took 1 wicket for 10 runs.
3rd T20I: New Zealand Won
Scores
Pak: 178/4 in 20 overs.
NZ: 179/3 in 18.2 overs
Match Date: 21 April
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
The match kicks off with New Zealand winning the toss and ready to field. Fans witnessed amazing performances from both teams. New Zealand won the match by 7 wickets with 10 balls left.
Top Performers
Pakistan: Shadab scored an amazing 41 runs, and Babar Azam scored 37 runs. Abbas Afridi took 2 wickets for 27 runs.
New Zealand: Mark Chapman scored 87 runs, and Ish Sodhi took 2 wickets for 25 runs.
4th T20I: New Zealand Won
Scores
Pak: 174/8 in 20 overs
NZ: 178/7 in 20 overs
Match date: 25th of April
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium Lahore
The 4th match of the T20 series started with Pakistan winning the toss. This exciting game ended with New Zealand winning by 4 runs.
Top Performers
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman scored 61 runs, and Abbas Afridi took 3 wickets for 20 runs.
New Zealand: Top scorer Tim Robinson scored 51 runs, and William O’Rourke took 3 wickets for 27 runs.
5th T20I: Pakistan Won
Scorers
Pak: 178/5
NZ: 169
Match Date: 27th April
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium
The last match of the series started with New Zealand winning the toss. The match was thrilling and suspenseful to watch, yet Pakistan won with an amazing score of 178.
Top Performers
Pakistan: Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman scored 69 and 43 runs respectively. Shaheen Afridi took 4 wickets for 30 runs.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert scored 52 runs, and William O’Rourke took 1 wicket for 25 runs.
Summary
In the final match, Pakistan won the match by 9 runs to draw the series 2-2. Babar Azam’s 69 runs and the bowling of Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed played a major role in Pakistan’s win. However, Mark Chapman’s all-round display for New Zealand was also impressive, even though the Kiwis ultimately fell short.
Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 Series Analysis
Here is the Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 Series Analysis.
- After Imad and Amir’s comeback, the bowling unit of Pakistan has become strong, which will help a lot for Pakistan in the upcoming T20 Biggest Triumph.
- After strengthening its bowling unit, Pakistan needs to improve its middle-order batting, as it struggled at times during the series. Increasing the consistency and finishing ability of their middle-order batters will benefit Pakistan in the future.
- The series also saw the rise of promising young talents like Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed for Pakistan. Their performances were a positive sign for Pakistan’s future.
- Experienced players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mark Chapman made significant contributions throughout the series. Their performances were key in their team wins.
Wrap-up
To sum it up, the T20 Series was crucial for both teams before stepping into the World Cup. It helps teams get better at their plans and gives players good practice. Both teams now have a clear vision of their strengths and weaknesses and will work hard for the big tournament. The conclusion point of the Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 Series Analysis is that both teams have made decent preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
