T20I Tri-nation: Mohammad Nawaz, Haider Ali blitz help Pakistan beat New Zealand in Final

Haider Ali scored 31 off 15 (Source: Twitter)

The final of the ongoing T20I tri-nation series witnessed a see-saw contest between New Zealand and Pakistan. For the visiting side, it was Mohammad Nawaz and Haider Ali whose late surge with the bat helped Pakistan lift the coveted trophy.

Williamson hold innings together

Put into bat New Zealand lost the in-form Finn Allen in the first over itself to Naseem Shah.

Devon Conway and Kane Williamson managed to stitch a small stand before the former got his stumps rattled by Haris Rauf.

Williamson continued his resistance from one end, joined by Glenn Phillips. He, too, departed after making a 22-ball 29, trying to hit over long-on.

Amidst all the wickets tumbling, Williamson registered his 15th T20I fifty. He and Mark Chapman added 37 runs before the Kiwi captain departed for 59.

Excellent bowling from Rauf and Naseem halted New Zealand’s charge in the final overs, where they lost four wickets within 33-odd runs.

Rauf and Naseem claimed two wickets apiece as New Zealand closed their innings at 163 for 7.

Nawaz - Haider onslaught

​Chasing 164, Pakistan made a decent start, scoring 30 in five overs. Skipper Babar Azam perished against Michael Bracewell for 15, handing his counterpart Kane Williamson a simple catch. Rizwan, joined by Shah Masood, scored quite slowly, taking the score past 60 in the 10th over.

Bracewell snapped his second wicket, getting the better of Masood after the drinks break. Ish Sodhi caught hold of Rizwan's prized scalp for 34 as two new batters Nawaz and Haider found their way in the middle.

​The pair went hammer and tong, looting Sodhi for 25 runs in his final over, bringing up their 50-run partnership in just 22 deliveries.

Haider departed after scoring a quire-fire 31 off 15, bringing the target down to 34 from 4 overs for Pakistan. Blair Tickner got Asif Ali for 2, keeping the BlackCaps still in the fray.

Despite the flurry of wickets, Nawaz kept his cool and guided his team past an memorable series win in New Zealand.

He (38*) along with Iftikhar Ahmed (25*) took Pakistan cross the finishing line in the final over, handing the Men in Green a five-wicket victory.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand: 163-7 (20)

Kane Williamson 56 (38), Glenn Phillips 29 (22);
Hasif Rauf 2 -22, Naseem Shah 2 -38

Pakistan:  168-5 (19.3)

Mohammad Nawaz 38* (22), Mohammad Rizwan 34 (29);
Michael Bracewell 2 -14,  Blair Tickner 1- 33

Match Report: Pakistan won by five wickets.

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