New Zealand survives Iftikhar Ahmed scare to beat Pakistan in a last-ball thriller

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New Zealand’s thrilling win over Pakistan in the third T20I have kept their hopes of victory alive in the five-match series. Pakistan almost sealed the series 3-0 with Iftikhar Ahmed’s batting heroics in the final overs, hitting six sixes and three fours to score a blistering 60 off 24 balls. But New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham held his nerve and helped his team win by four runs, dismissing Pakistan for 159 in their pursuit of chasing 164.

Tom Latham, leading New Zealand without eight frontline players busy in the Indian Premier League (IPL), anchored the Kiwis’ batting attack, scoring a brilliant 64 off 49 balls.

In response to New Zealand’s 163-5, Pakistan struggled after their top-order fell and were 88-7 by the end of the 15th over. However, Iftikhar counter-attacked with Faheem Ashraf, and their 61-run partnership brought Pakistan close to victory.

? to ? maximums as @IftiAhmed221 flexes his power-hitting muscle ?#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/n3SVa4jcjH

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 17, 2023

With just 15 runs needed off the last over, Iftikhar began with a six and a boundary, but he tried to finish the game with another big hit and was caught at long-on. Haris Rauf, the last man, was also caught in the deep of the final delivery. Neesham’s crucial role in the last over, taking three wickets for 38 runs, helped New Zealand to a remarkable win.

New Zealand edge out Pakistan in a final-ball thriller ?#PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/D2CQcBKWcs

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 17, 2023

Brief scores: New Zealand 163-5 in 20 overs (Tom Latham 64, Daryl Mitchell 33; Haris Rauf 2/31) beat Pakistan 159 in 20 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 60, Faheem Ashraf 27; James Neesham 3/38) by 4 runs.

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