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Series on then! Pakistan, with this commanding win, is alive in the series, but they still trail 1-2. With two matches still to play, the tourists have found the momentum just at the right time. The youngsters stepped up this time around and they would expect the same in the upcoming matches, which of course, are do and die. While for New Zealand, they would like to go on the drawing board and assess where things went wrong. Well then, that's a wrap from this third T20I. The series now moves to the Bay Oval of Mount Maunganui for the 4th and penultimate T20I in this five-match series. The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 6.15 am GMT on March 23rd, Sunday. Till then, cheers, and goodbye!

The victorious captain of Pakistan, Salman Agha says that he is happy with the overall team’s performance and he congratulates Hasan for his impressive century. Adds that both openers batted really well and he always wanted to back them. States that he told his team that 200 is a par score and they can chase it down. Mentions that the bowlers did really well to restrict New Zealand to this score. Concludes that he is happy that it was a do-or-die situation for them and they played accordingly and won the game.

The captain of New Zealand, Michael Bracewell says he's disappointed with the result but gives full credit to Hasan Nawaz for his unbelievable innings. He acknowledges that it's always tough to defend at this venue, even more so when someone bats the way Nawaz did. Bracewell admits that not batting the full 20 overs was costly and something they need to tidy up for the next game. He also points out the changing conditions as part of the beauty of the game. Mentions that Chapman batted beautifully, and after his dismissal, they had to take stock for a couple of overs, and were 15-20 runs short.

Hasan Nawaz of Pakistan is adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his impressive performance with a match-winning hundred. He says that he was distraught as he got out for ducks in the previous two games and he appreciates Salman Agha and Shadab Khan for their backing and giving him confidence. Adds that he just wanted to score his first run in international cricket and he knew that his skipper had full confidence in him to perform here and he is happy that he did that today and contributed to his team’s win.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Pakistan's bowling-first strategy initially clicked when they dismissed Finn Allen in his milestone 50th T20I and quickly removed Seifert, giving them control in the Powerplay. Just as a collapse loomed, Mark Chapman launched a spectacular counter-offensive, hammering a brilliant fifty alongside Daryl Mitchell to completely shift momentum. Though wickets continued falling around him, Chapman remained resolute, dominating the middle overs with explosive hitting before falling agonizingly short of his century by just six runs. Despite having plenty of overs remaining, Pakistan's timely wicket-taking provided crucial breathing space in the death overs, with Haris Rauf starring by claiming a three-wicket haul. Michael Bracewell's late cameo of 31 off just 18 proved vital, propelling New Zealand beyond the 200-run mark despite Pakistan's fightback.

New Zealand needed wickets, but their premier bowlers were taken to the cleaners, and with the short dimensions of the boundaries, even a few mishits cleared the ropes, adding to New Zealand's frustration. The game already got into dangerous territory for New Zealand as Salman Agha joined the bandwagon of the attack with the bat and scored a fifty of his own. With the asking rate below the run-a-ball, Pakistan held the bull by its horn, and with a centurion partnership, they sailed through with ease as New Zealand's bowlers just couldn't stop Pakistan's runaway train.

They say, when it's your day, fortune smiles at every turn. Hasan Nawaz, previously haunted by consecutive ducks, found everything falling his way - even surviving a dropped catch as lady luck rode alongside his brilliant batting display. Pakistan built perfectly on their openers' foundation, shifting effortlessly to consolidate their position during the middle overs. Comfortably ahead of New Zealand at the halfway stage with plenty of wickets in the tank, the tourists maintained complete control of the chase.

Chasing a challenging total of 205, Pakistan needed a strong start, and they got one. Mohammed Haris and Hasan Nawaz took immediate control, launching an aggressive assault during the Powerplay. The duo peppered the boundary with regular hits, capitalizing on the difficult bowling conditions as dew began to settle on the outfield. Despite eventually losing Haris, Pakistan ended the crucial first six overs in a commanding position at 75/1.

A duck in Christchurch, another duck in Dunedin, only to be followed by a sensational maiden T20I century here in Auckland in a historic run chase. Hasan Nawaz, take a bow! This 22-year-old kid has helped Pakistan to blaze to victory with four overs to spare and this has truly been range-hitting of some quality. Spare a thought for New Zealand bowlers, as none of them could make any impact and were smashed all around the park, with all bowlers, barring Neesham, leaking runs in double digits on the economy.

15.6FOUR! THAT'S IT! Pakistan pull off a big chase with ease and stay alive in the series! On a back of a length, outside off, Hasan waits on the back foot and just glides it with an open bat face to the left of short third for a boundary to take his side over the line. Handshakes and smiles all around in the Pakistan camp as they canter home!

15.5HUNDRED FOR HASAN! Maiden T20I ton for the 22-year-old and it could not have come at a better time for him and Pakistan. Sliding onto the pads, on a short of a length, Nawaz gets inside the line and swats it to the left of deep fine leg for a boundary. Nawaz gets a hug from his skipper and everyone in the Pakistani dugout is up on their feet. Just 2 more needed for Pakistan.

15.5Wide! Jamieson bangs in a slower bumper, around off, Hasan shapes up to play the upper cut but decides against it in the end. It sails over his head for a wide.

15.4On a hard length, on middle and leg, Salman gets on his toes and drops it down in front of mid-wicket for a single.

15.3Miscued but safe! Pace taken off, on a short of a length, on off, Nawaz swings a bit too hard and loses his shape. The ball gets sliced across but it clears extra cover. They cross.

15.2Low full toss, on off, Hasan goes deep in the crease and drills it to the right of deep cover for a couple of runs.

15.1FIFTY FOR AGHA! An entertaining knock from the Pakistani skipper and ever since he arrived, he has kept the momentum going! On a back of a length, on middle, Agha nudges it through square leg for a single.

Kyle Jamieson (3-0-40-0) is back into the attack.

14.6SIX! Clever, very clever! Dug in short by Ben, around off, Hasan arches back and waits for the ball to arrive. Uses the pace of the ball as he ramps it over the keeper for six more. Hasan moves to 94.

14.5SIX! Flayed away! Banged into the deck but width offered on off, Hasan throws his hands at it. The ball flies over deep backward point for a flat six.

14.4Big swing and a miss! On a nagging length, around off, Hasan swings for the hills as he backs away but connects with thin air.

14.3On a good length, on off, Agha looks to play at it but gets a bit rushed. Ekes out an inside edge that rolls away on the leg side for one.

14.2FOUR LEG BYES! Too straight, too full, on the pads, Agha swings to help it away but misses. The ball goes off the pads and beats short fine leg for a boundary.

14.1Good stop! Sears gets the yorker in, on off, Nawaz squeezes it out towards backward point where Tim Seifert dives to his right and makes the stop.

Ben Sears is back on. He is 3-0-37-0 so far and replaces Jacob Duffy.

13.6Dragged length, around off and middle, Nawaz pushes it to long on for a single to end the over. Pakistan need just 30 runs now off the last six overs.

13.5SWING AND MISS! Tossed it up and well outside off, Hasan Nawaz goes on his knee and looks to swing it down the ground but misses.

13.4Short and around off and middle, Salman Agha pushes it to long on for a single. He wants to have another but is sent back by his partner. The 100-run partnership comes up between the two as well!

13.3FOUR! A hat-trick of boundaries for the Pakistani skipper! Sodhi keeps the line and length similar, short and outside off, Salman Agha slices it again and beats the diving backward point fielder to his right for a boundary.

13.2FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Salman! Sodhi drops it short and well outside off, Salman Agha goes back and cuts it to the right of backward point for another boundary.

13.1FOUR! PURE TIMING! Sodhi drags his length after seeing the batter coming down the track, Salman Agha adjusts it in the end and just chips it aerially down the ground over the bowler's head. The ball goes into the ropes between long on and long off.

Ish Sodhi (1-0-14-0) is back on.

12.6On a good length, touch outside off, Salman Agha cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

12.5SIX! STREAKY BUT SALMAN WON'T MIND IT! Short of a length, into the body of the batter, around middle, Salman Agha swivels and looks to pull it. He gets a top edge only which goes over deep fine leg for a biggie.

12.4A yorker around off, with pace this time, Salman Agha jams it out back to the bowler to his right who picks it up on his follow-through and makes a throw at the batter's end but misses.

12.3Hard length and around off, Salman Agha nudges it with soft hands towards long on and picks up two runs.

12.2FOUR! STREAKY! Slightly fuller than the previous one and into the line of the stumps, Salman Agha makes room a bit and looks to slog it across to the leg side. He gets a thick inside edge that goes through between his legs and for a boundary at deep fine leg.

12.1SIX! TOP SHOT! An off-cutter by Jacob Duffy, on a good length and outside off, Salman Agha swings and thumps it over cover for a biggie.

Will the skipper continue? Nope. Jacob Duffy returns into the attack. He is 2-0-18-1 so far.

11.6Hard length and outside off, with pace off, Hasan Nawaz comes down the track and swings at it and gets it through the toe end of the bat. The ball goes over extra cover and the batters take a couple of runs.

11.5FOUR! INNOVATIVE! A bouncer by Jamieson and around middle, Hasan Nawaz waits for it and opens the face of the bat to use the pace of the ball. He guides it over the keeper for a boundary.

11.4Leg bye! Slower again, on the pads, on a good length, Salman Agha looks to tickle it but misses and gets hit on the pad. He runs off for a leg bye as the ball rolls away towards square leg.

11.3BEATEN! Bangs in short of a length, touch outside off, Salman Agha looks to cut it off late but gets beaten on the outside edge.

11.2Back of a length, with pace off, moves away after pitching, Salman Agha looks to turn it to the leg side but checks his shot in the end and drops it down towards mid-wicket.

11.1FOUR! PICKED IT UP! A bit slower, on a length and on the pads, easy for Salman Agha as he moves across and flicks it wide of deep fine leg for a boundary.

10.6Short and around off, Salman punches it to long on off the back foot for a single.

10.5Similar length, but on the pads, Salman Agha comes down the track and looks to swipe it across to the leg side. He misses and gets hit on the front pad.

10.4Dragged length, around off and middle, Nawaz nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

10.3FOUR! SWEPT AWAY! Nagging length, around off, Hasan Nawaz goes a bit low and fetches out to sweep it towards deep backward square leg for a boundary.

10.2In the air... but it lands safely! Tossed it up, around off, Salman Agha goes on his knee and sweeps it. He gets a top edge as the ball goes high in the air towards deep square leg but falls down ahead of the incoming fielder and the batters run for a single.

10.1Drags his length after seeing batter coming down the track, around off, Salman Agha chips it back to the bowler.

DRINKS BREAK! Pakistan couldn't have asked for a better first half of the chase. They have dominated so far, with the dew aiding the ball to skid onto the bat nicely, and the short boundaries ensuring even mishits reach the fence. Not much has gone New Zealand’s way with the ball, though they had a golden opportunity in the last over when Ish Sodhi shelled a catch. The hosts desperately need a couple of quick wickets to claw their way back and keep their hopes alive in this game. Here's the skipper, Michael Bracewell into the attack. He is 1-0-16-0 so far.

9.6Short of a length, around off, Salman guides it to deep third man for a single.

9.5Back of a length, touch outside off, Salman cuts it but straight to backward point.

9.4DROPPED! A good bouncer by Ben Sears and around the right shoulder of the batter, Hasan Nawaz swivels and looks to hook it. He gets a top edge as the ball comes faster than he expected. The ball goes towards deep fine leg where Ish Sodhi spills an easy chance. The batters run for a single.

9.3FOUR! TOP SHOT! Hard length, around middle, Hasan Nawaz clears out his front leg and thumps it down the ground over mid on for a boundary.

9.2SIX! LUCKY FOR HASAN! Sears bangs it a short of a length, into the body of the batter, Hasan Nawaz lifts his front leg up and looks to pull it from the back foot. He mistimes it as he gets hurried by the pace and gets a top edge that sails over the keeper behind the wicket for a biggie.

9.1FOUR! HELPED ON ITS WAY! Good length on the pads, easy for Hasan Nawaz as he hops up a bit and flicks it to deep backward square leg for a boundary.

8.6Full and outside off, Salman slices it but straight to backward point.

8.5Short of a length, around off, Hasan Nawaz puls it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

8.4SIX! CLEAN STRIKE! Hasan Nawaz completes his maiden fifty in just 26 balls! Neesham bowls it in the slot, full around middle, Hasan Nawaz clears his front leg and thumps it down the ground for a biggie to complete his milestone. He has set up this chase in favour of Pakistan here.

8.4WIDE! Back of a length and well outside off, with pace off, Hasan Nawaz misses the cut. Called a wide.

8.3BEATEN AGAIN! Fuller and wide outside off, keeps it away from the batter's arc, Hasan Nawaz makes too much room and tries to extend his arms to reach out but misses.

8.2BEATEN! Goes fuller and well outside off, Hasan Nawaz goes a bit low to drive it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

8.1On a good length and outside off, Salman slices it towards deep point for a single. 100 comes up for Pakistan.

7.6Ends with a good bouncer, into the body of the batter, Salman Agha ducks under it.

7.5Back of a length, around off, Salman guides it to deep third for a single.

7.4EDGED AND FOUR! Sears bowls it on a hard length again and touch outside off, Salman Agha throws his hands at it and looks to punch it to the off side. He gets a thick outside edge that goes to the right of the keeper for a boundary behind the wicket.

7.3Hard length, on the pads, Nawaz clips it to deep square leg for a single.

7.2FOUR! STREAKY! Sears hits the deck hard and on a good length, on the fourth stump, Hasan Nawaz clears out his front leg and looks to slog it across to the leg side. He generates a top edge that flies to the right of the deep third man fielder for a boundary.

7.1BEATEN! Back of a length and touch outside off, gets it to move away a bit, Hasan Nawaz looks to guide it to third man but gets beaten by the pace.

6.6A bit quicker and flatter, into the stumps, Hasan taps it down towards extra cover and runs off for a quick single.

6.5FOUR! DEFT TOUCH! Too short and wide outside off, Hasan Nawaz moves across to reach out and opens the face of the bat to use the pace of the ball. He guides it in the gap between backward point and short third man for a boundary.

6.4Dragged length, around off, Salman pushes it towards deep backward point for a single.

6.3Slows it up, on a nagging length and outside off, Hasan Nawaz cuts it to deep backward point for a single.

6.2SIX! CRACKING SHOT! Floated it up, right in the slot, just outside off, Hasan Nawaz goes on his knee and slogs it over long on for a biggie.

6.1Tossed it up from over the wicket, Salman Agha comes forward to drive it to long off for a single.

Ish Sodhi comes into the attack.

5.6On the back of a length, slightly around off. Salman Agha works it down to deep third for a single. New Zealand end their Powerplay on a strong note - 75/1.

Salman Agha walks in at number 3.

5.5OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! CAUGHT BEHIND! Duffy runs in hard and bends his back, bowls it short and on top of the stumps. Mohammad Haris swivels to pull, but is cramped up a bit for room. He does go through the shot, but ends up top edging it over the keeper's head. Mitchell Hay settles under it as the ball swirls and descends. Hay locks his eyes on the ball, and takes a fine catch. Finally, New Zealand get their first wicket as Mohammad Haris departs on 41 (20). Pakistan are 74/1, needing 131 runs to win in 14.1 overs.

5.4Angling on the pads, on a good length, clipped fine to short fine leg.

5.3FOUR! Threads the gap neatly! Back of a length, around off, Mohammad Haris rises with the bounce and places it beautifully between backward point and short third for a boundary.

5.2Skids through off the deck, on a good length, at the pads, Mohammad Haris misses to tuck it across and is pinged on the thigh pad.

5.1Landed fuller and on off, Hasan Nawaz swings and slices over the covers. Michael Bracewell from the inner ring gives it a chase. Slides to flick the ball inside the arena. Saves one run. Three taken.

4.6Length, on the stumps, pulled across to the left of the mid-wicket region for a single.

4.5SIX! The ball is just sailing over the fence! That was not a bad delivery at all! Bracewell drags the length, on off, Hasan Nawaz transfers the weight quickly on the back foot, and flat bats it over long off for a six.

4.4Slower through the air, pushed around off, Mohammad Haris gets down on his knee and mistimes the sweep shot to the right of square leg for a single.

4.3Good length, outside off, turning in, Hasan Nawaz hangs back and punches it to long on for one more.

4.2Sliding into the pads, on a length, Mohammad Haris tickles it to short fine leg for one.

4.1SIX! Michael Bracewell is greeted into the attack with a biggie! Landed right into the slot, on the off stump line, Mohammad Haris finds the ball in his arc, sits down on his knee and slogs it behind deep mid-wicket for a six.

3.6SIX! What a shot! Shorter in length again from Kyle Jamieson, on the stumps, Hasan Nawaz backs away and this time, he connects just well enough to pull it behind deep mid-wicket for a cracking six.

3.5Into the bodyline on a shorter length, Hasan Nawaz swings to pull, but misses.

3.4Good work there by Daryl Mitchell! Back of a length, on the stumps, Hasan Nawaz weighs on the back foot and pulls over mid-wicket. The ball keeps dribbling to the fence, but it is a huge pocket in the deep and Daryl Mitchell swoops in with a slide and saves a couple of runs for his side.

3.3FOUR! On the bounce, into the fence! Full and angling on off, Hasan Nawaz backs away and tonks it over the bowler. However, the connection is off the toe-end but the ball does clear mid off, and goes on the bounce for a boundary.

3.2On the shorter side, angling on top of off, Hasan Nawaz leans on the back foot, and looks to loft it over the bowler but misses as he plays inside the line.

3.2WIDE! Identical line and length, left alone. Wide given again.

3.2WIDE! Way down leg on a length. Wide called.

3.1Slower one, on the pads, good length, Mohammad Haris gets a bit across to work into the leg side, but inside edges it to the left of the keeper. Mitchell Hay dives to his left and stops the ball, but they cross for a single.

2.6Swing and a miss! Touch full and around off, skidding through off the seam. Hasan Nawaz swings for the hills but connects thin air.

2.5FOUR! Butchered! Back of a length, on top of off, Hasan Nawaz stays leg side of the ball, gets a bit forward and frees his arms. Times the ball to perfection and gets it past covers for a boundary.

2.4Banged short on top of off, Mohammad Haris hops on the bounce and guides it to deep third. Ish Sodhi runs and dives across to his left to cut it off. A single taken. Good fielding effort there by Sodhi.

2.3Length, on off, punched into the off side.

2.2FOUR! Races away! On off, shaping away, full in length. Mohammad Haris gets in a bit of a tangle as he opens up his body and the ball takes a bit of an outside edge to run through the deep third region for a boundary. No chance for the fielder to cut it off to his left.

2.1Back of a length, lifting off the deck, outside off, guided away to deep third for a single.

2.1WIDE! A false start for Sears! Down leg, on a fullish length. Hasan Nawaz misses to flick. Wide called.

1.6FOUR! Whipped away! Angling into the leg stump line, too full and straight. Mohammad Haris picks it up, uses his wrists and flicks it over short fine leg for a boundary.

1.5Leading edge, falls safe! Full in length, on middle and leg. Haris closes his bat face a bit too early to play it across in the leg side. A leading edge is found and the ball lobs in front of the mid on region, lands safe.

1.4Swing and a miss! Hard length, skidding off the deck, outside off, Mohammad Haris swings and misses as the ball passes above his angled bat.

1.3FOUR! Uppish, but in the gap! Fuller in length, shaping away a shy bit, Mohammad Haris leans on it and slices it in the air, to the left of the point fielder for a boundary.

1.2Full and on middle and leg, this is pushed to the left of mid on by Nawaz. A quick single taken.

1.1A slip in place for Duffy! Good length, outside off, Mohammad Haris plays it late, opens the bat face, and the ball goes uppishly through the short third region for a single.

Jacob Duffy will operate from the other end.

0.6On the shorter side, outside off, Mohammad Haris rides the bounce and taps it towards deep third for a single to end the over. A positive start for Pakistan. 15/0.

0.5SIX! Innovative, and effective! Pitched fuller in length again from Kyle, on the middle and leg stump line, Mohammad Haris shuffles across the stumps and just scoops it over the keeper's head for a six.

0.4SIX! He has picked the bones out of it! Into the arc, fuller and around off, Mohammad Haris gets on the front foot and lofts it over long off for a handsome six.

0.3Angling on the pads, good length, Hasan Nawaz tucks it away to the widish short fine leg region. A little fumble there by the fielder allows the batters to cross for a single.

0.2Hits the deck hard, on middle, Hasan Nawaz gets right behind it and blocks it off the back foot.

0.1On the money! A well-attempted yorker from Jamieson, but Pakistan get underway! An inswinging yorker on middle, Mohammad Haris jams his bat down, just in time, and inside edges to the short fine leg region. A single taken.

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Team Rankings

RankTeamPointsRating
1Australia3732124
2South Africa3581116
3England4469112
4India4064104
5New Zealand240996
6Sri Lanka236488
7Pakistan205082
8West Indies203670
9Bangladesh188863
10Ireland18523
11Zimbabwe20812
12Afghanistan6210
RankTeamPointsRating
1India5089121
2New Zealand4956113
3Australia4134109
4Pakistan4294105
5Sri Lanka4392100
6South Africa402298
7Afghanistan265795
8England343286
9West Indies317377
10Bangladesh288276
11Zimbabwe129154
12Ireland93852
13Scotland152246
14USA166844
15Netherlands142540
16Oman88635
17Nepal95927
18Namibia70721
19Canada35716
20United Arab Emirates39611
RankTeamPointsRating
1India18251272
2Australia11199267
3England11609258
4New Zealand13318251
5South Africa11751240
6West Indies14424236
7Pakistan17149235
8Sri Lanka10951228
9Bangladesh14925223
10Afghanistan9895220
11Ireland7438201
12Zimbabwe13190200
13Netherlands6366182
14Scotland4178182
15Namibia6344181
16United Arab Emirates10584176
17Nepal7384176
18USA5769175
19Canada5374154
20Oman7140152
21Uganda7952142
22Papua New Guinea2718136
23Kuwait5441130
24Hong Kong6602127
25Malaysia6847124
26Bahrain8079119
27Jersey2819117
28Italy1725115
29Qatar4666114
30Spain2478113
31Bermuda3040113
32Saudi Arabia4245109
33Kenya5074106
34Tanzania4082100
35Germany192487
36Nigeria373379
37Singapore284477
38Guernsey207177
39Cayman Islands192174
40Austria405471
41Denmark126270
42Norway209570
43Portugal133367
44Japan251866
45Belgium205957
46Cambodia136557
47Argentina74550
48Switzerland108649
49Finland113049
50Sweden104848
51Malawi201947
52Botswana154747
53Isle of Man60446
54France110946
55Thailand169046
56Romania154445
57Bahamas97242
58Czechia91141
59Cook Islands55239
60Rwanda257638
61Philippines82738
62Fiji38735
63Vanuatu56135
64Cyprus78933
65Indonesia212832
66Ghana57030
67Hungary97129
68Samoa67229
69Estonia66528
70Malta108526
71Mozambique51826
72Swaziland49126
73Israel17825
74Sierra Leone47122
75Panama31821
76Belize16421
77Gibraltar49419
78Luxembourg43218
79Costa Rica21817
80Mexico28716
81Bhutan34216
82Suriname11915
83Serbia31511
84Maldives21410
85Cameroon868
86Brazil908
87Bulgaria1917
88Myanmar1446
89Korea946
90St.Helena446
91China295
92Lesotho242
93Turkiye262
94Gambia61
95Slovenia00
95Seychelles00
95Mali00
95Greece00
95Croatia00
95Mongolia00
95Timor-Leste00
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