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NAPIER: Pakistan beat New Zealand by four wickets in the third and final Twenty20 International at McLean Park and avoid a whitewash.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan batted with great composure and guided Pakistan to a comfortable four-wicket win. The 28-year-old scored 89 off 59 balls which included 10 fours and three sixes. Mohammad Hafeez was the other notable batsman scoring 41 off 29 balls, while Khushdil Shah scored 13 runs.
After winning the toss, Pakistani skipper Shadan Khab opted to bowl first. Pakistan made three changes to the playing 11 as Hussain Talat, Mohammad Hasnain and Iftikhar Ahmed replaced Abdullah Shafique, Wahab Riaz and Imad Wasim. The New Zealand side remained unchanged.
Sarfaraz Ahmed was not picked for the match. Speaking to the commentators after the toss, Shadab said many players were facing the New Zealand conditions for the first time. and the young players are definitely learning on this tour.
Earlier, Devon Conway’s late flourish has guided New Zealand to 173/7 in the final T20I. The 29-year-old rescued Blackcaps’ inning after they were 58/3 in 7.2 overs. Conway scored 63 off 45 balls which included seven fours and a six. Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert made 31 and 35 respectively.
For Pakistan, Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the bowlers, taking three for 20 while Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah picked two each but were expensive in their quota of four overs.
New Zealand won the three-match series 2-1 against Pakistan. The Black Caps won the initial two T20I by five and nine wickets respectively.
