Mitchell, Phillips hit half-centuries as New Zealand beats Pakistan by seven wickets

Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips mixed to steer New Zealand to a seven-wicket win over Pakistan within the fourth Twenty20 worldwide in Christchurch on Friday and place them on the verge of a collection clear sweep.

The Black Caps pair scored unbeaten half-centuries in a 139-run stand as the house aspect reached 159-3 within the nineteenth over in response to Pakistan’s 158-5.

New Zealand vs Pakistan 2024, 4th T20 Full Scorecard

They have been compelled to mount a rearguard motion after Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi knocked over New Zealand’s prime order, decreasing them to 3-20 within the third over.

Mitchell scored 72 off 44 balls and Phillips 70 off 52, accelerating over the closing levels to finish victory with 11 balls to spare, having begun their partnership in cautious trend.

New Zealand can wrap up the collection 5-0 in Sunday’s remaining match on the similar Hagley Oval venue.

Pakistan paid for his or her incapacity to help opening batter Mohammad Rizwan, who crafted an unbeaten 90 off 63 balls to dominate his aspect’s innings.

Rizwan discovered methods to maintain the rating ticking over towards a disciplined New Zealand assault, led by seamers Matt Henry (2-22) and Lockie Ferguson (2-27).

The 31-year-old threatened to achieve his second T20 worldwide century however was denied the strike over the closing levels of an innings that featured a comparatively low proportion of boundaries: six fours and two sixes.

Allrounder Mohammad Nawaz was the one different participant to surpass 20 runs, whacking tempo bowler Adam Milne for 3 successive sixes in his remaining over to publish 21 off 9 balls.

Babar Azam, who scored half-centuries in every of the primary three video games, fell for 19 when he skied an tried pull off Milne within the seventh over.

Pace bowler Afridi had Pakistan proper within the contest when he knocked over Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Will Young cheaply and completed with figures of 3-34.

Allen’s wicket was significantly cherished following the opener’s sensational 137 in recreation three on Wednesday.

However, Mitchell and Phillips progressively pulled momentum again in New Zealand’s favour and Pakistan probably blew their final probability at victory when Sahibzada Farhan dropped an easy probability within the deep provided by Mitchell within the 14th over.

Brief Scores: Pakistan: 158-5 in 20 overs (M. Rizwan 90 not out, M. Nawaz 21 not out; M. Henry 2-22) vs New Zealand: 159-3 in 18.1 overs (D. Mitchell 72 not out, G. Phillips 70 not out; S. Afridi 3-34)

Result: New Zealand win by seven wickets