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NZ vs PAK | Finn Allen's Masterclass Ensures NZ Gain Unassailable 3-0 Lead Over Pakistan

image-lrh6ptyaFinn Allen scored a blistering 137 [X.com]

Brief score | New Zealand: 224/7 (20 overs) [ Finn Allen 137 (62), Tim Seifert 31 (23); Haris Rauf 2/60 (4), Mohammad Wasim Jr 1/35 (4) ] defeated Pakistan: 179/7 (20 overs) [ Babar Azam 58 (37), Mohammad Nawaz 28 (15); Tim Southee , Mitchell Santner 1/26 (4) ] by 45 runs.

The third T20I between New Zealand and Pakistan witnessed Finn Allen produce a spectacle innings, which helped the BlackCaps gain an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. 


Babar Azam Fights, But Pakistan Falter 

Chasing 225, Pakistan opener Saim Ayub fell for a 13-ball 10, as Tim Southee drew first blood for the home side. Former captain Babar Azam and current vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan joined alliance in the middle and consolidated for Pakistan adding 39 runs for the second wicket.

Their stand was brought to an end by Kiwi skipper Mitchell Santner, who clinched Rizwan's wicket. Hard-hitting batter Fakhar Zaman did provide fun in the middle scoring 10-ball 19, but Lockie Ferguson stopped the former's surge.

Azam Khan's poor run continued as the wicketkeeper-batter scored 10 and got out to Matt Henry. All-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed added just a solitary run on the board before getting run out in a lazy fashion. Unfazed, Azam registered his 36th and third successive T20I fifty and kept the visitors alive. 

However, with the required run rate rising, Azam in an attempt to hit Ish Sodhi for a four, found the brilliant Glenn Phillips positioned a cow corner to take a simple catch on 58. 

Mohammad Nawaz managed to hit lofty blows and added 40 runs with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi before falling for 28.

Afridi along with Mohammad Wasim Jr remained unbeaten on 1* and 16*, respectively as New Zealand won by 45 runs, as Pakistan scored 179 for 7.


The Finn Allen Show

Pakistan opted to bowl, a decision, which in the long run proved costly for Shaheen Shah Afridi. Finn Allen provided New Zealand with a quick start, but pacer Haris Rauf removed Devon Conway for 7, which Pakistan thought would dampen the hosts' hopes. 

However, Allen had other plans and absolutely wrecked Rauf in his second over, taking the pacer for 28 runs, which included two fours and three sixes. Allen soon notched up his second consecutive fifty and moved onto fifth gear, where it only rained sixes at Dunedin.

Allen tore into Mohammad Nawaz's bowling, lining the bowler up for a 107m six in his second over, bringing the fifty-run stand with Tim Seifert.

Brought back into the attack, Rauf suffered another hammering as Allen smashed the bowler for 19 runs out of 23 in his third. The Kiwi batter registered his second T20I ton in 48 balls, becoming the third-fastest New Zealand player behind Glenn Phillips and Colin Munro.

Seifert, who remained a mere spectator fell for 31, as Allen's onslaught continued on Pakistan bowlers as the explosive player went past former coach Brendon McCullum's record of highest individual T20I score for New Zealand (123).

Allen's 137-run knock contained 16 sixes and merely five fours, as Zaman Khan claimed the batter in the 17th over, which permitted Pakistan to stop the flow of runs. New Zealand managed 224 for seven, as Afridi and Rauf came back stronger for their final spell.