Picture Credit: X
On Sunday, March 23, the Pakistan cricket team collapsed to a big defeat by 115 runs against New Zealand in the fourth T20I of the five-match series at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. After the bowlers conceded a massive score of 220 runs, the Pakistan batting lineup fell away drastically in the power play stage, losing five wickets before getting bundled out for 105 runs, which meant they lost the T20I series 1-3 with one match remaining.
After Pakistan captain Salman Agha put New Zealand into batting first, opener Tim Seifert got off to a flyer in the power play stage, scoring 44 runs in 22 balls with three fours and four sixes. Following that, Finn Allen, his opening partner, took control of the New Zealand innings, bringing up his fifty in just 19 balls with six fours and three sixes before his dismissal on the bowling of Abbas Afridi.
Michael Bracewell powers New Zealand to 220 runs with late cameo
Captain Michael Bracewell provided the much-needed late impetus to the New Zealand innings, helping them get up to 220 runs in their allotted overs after losing a couple of quick wickets against Haris Rauf. In the run chase, Pakistan got off to a horrible start, losing the wicket of their openers Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz along with Salman Agha in the first two overs just a couple of days after they had chased down a total in excess of 200 on their own.
The New Zealand bowlers kept taking wickets regularly in the Pakistan innings, not allowing them to get anywhere close to the target with Jacob Duffy and Zakary Foulkes being the pick of the bunch.
Here are some of the fan reactions on X after Pakistan batting lineup collapsed in the fourth T20I versus New Zealand:
With their third disappointing defeat in four T20I matches in New Zealand, the Pakistan cricket team won’t be winning the series with the final game to be played at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on March 26.
