NZ vs PAK, 4th T20I | Daryl Mitchell, Phillips Subdue Shaheen, Rizwan As NZ Go 4-0 Up
Glenn Phillips celebrating his 10th T20I half-century (x.com)
Brief Scores: Pakistan: 158-5 (20 overs) [Mohammad Rizwan: 90* (63), Mohammad Nawaz: 21* (9); Matt Henry 2/22 (4), Lockie Ferguson 2/27 (4)] lost to New Zealand: 159-3 (18.1 overs) [Daryl Mitchell: 72* (44), Glenn Phillips: 70* (52); Shaheen Afridi 3/34 (4)] by seven wickets.
Hosts New Zealand outclassed Pakistan in the fourth T20I at Christchurch's Hagley Oval to take a 4-0 lead in their five-match series.
Mohammad Rizwan’s 90 lifts PAK to 158
Being put into bat first by the hosts, Pakistan lost opener Saim Ayub for just a run to New Zealand's new-ball paceman Matt Henry. After racing to 19 from 10 balls, Babar Azam perished to a 149 kph scorcher from familiar nemesis Adam Milne.
Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan failed to make an impact in the middle overs as both were dismissed by New Zealand's comeback man, Lockie Ferguson, who finished his spell with figures of 2-27.
Amidst tumbling wickets and stuttering starts, opening batsman Mohammad Rizwan remained defiant and led his side's run-scoring charge with a 63-ball 90*.
His innings, marking the 26th half-century of his T20I profile, and Mohammad Nawaz's thunderous 9-ball 21-run cameo lifted Pakistan to a competitive 158-5 by the end of their 20 overs.
Mitchell, Phillips overpower Shaheen’s new-ball blitz
Defending 159, Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi removed both New Zealand openers in his first over and also dismissed number three Will Young with the new-ball to reduce the hosts to 20-3 at one stage.
Unfortunately for Pakistan, Shaheen's new-ball blitz was quickly extinguished by Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, who blazed New Zealand to victory with their emphatic 139-run partnership. Both cricketers slapped sparkling and unbeaten 70s from their ends and ensured New Zealand rushed past the finishing line with seven wickets and nearly two overs to spare.
 "Aakash Saini")
