Pakistan batter Babar Azam scored his third half-century in as many games but couldn't take his team to a win in the third T20I as New Zealand sealed the five-match series after a thumping win in Dunedin. In a must-win game, Babar hit 58 off 37 balls but did not get any helping hand from his teammates as New Zealand won the game by 45 runs. The former Pakistan captain struck eight fours and a solitary six, which injured a fan. The incident happened on the fourth ball of the 13th over of Pakistan's chase when Matt Henry was bowling.
Henry bowled a short-pitched delivery to Babar, who pulled the ball towards deep midwicket. Meanwhile, a fan tried to take a catch but ended up getting injured by Babar's powerful shot.
The fan landed awkwardly as another man completed the catch, drawing an animated reaction from Babar, who had a look of concern on his face.
aww such a cutie.he was actually feeling bad for that man
— Wajeeha (@itswajeehaa) January 17, 2024
Watta a six Babar#NZvPAK #PAKvsNZ #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/QULvI9t0n0
Coming back to the match, New Zealand sealed their T20 series against Pakistan with two games to spare Wednesday on the back of a record 137 off 62 balls by opener Finn Allen.
The Black Caps, sent in to bat in game three of the five-match series, won by 45 runs after posting a colossal 224 for seven and restricting Pakistan to 179 for seven.
It followed their victories by 46 and 21 runs respectively in the first two matches.
The swashbuckling Allen, following on from his 74 off 41 balls in game two, frequently belted the ball out of the ground as he smashed 16 sixes and five fours in his whirlwind innings.
Allen's 137 is the highest score by a New Zealander in a T20 International, surpassing the previous best of 123 set by Brendon McCullum, and it equalled the world record of 16 sixes in an innings held by Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai.
He dominated the bowling, taking 27 off one over by Haris Rauf with three sixes, two fours and a single.
In reply, Pakistan never looked like getting close to the required 11.25 run rate.
They reached 95 for two in the 11th over, but saw a clutch of wickets derail their chase, losing four for just 39 runs.
Babar Azam top-scored with 58 off 37 deliveries while Mohammad Nawaz contributed 28 off 15 in a late cameo.
The remaining two matches are in Christchurch on Friday and Sunday.
(With AFP Inputs)
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