PAK VS NZ - 3rd T20I, New Zealand tour of Pakistan, 2023

It was another typical day for Pakistan. They oscillated between being brilliant and abysmal at different times of the game. That's what makes Pakistan such a feisty unit in any format. NZ would be happy with the win but the margin of the victory would have bemused them. They should have closed it out but couldn't. Experienced heads like Milne could have done better at the death. And there seems to be too much dependance on Latham at the top. But the bottomline is that the series is still alive and that itself is a good result for NZ. Can they hold on to the windfall of the momentum that they have triggered today? We will be back soon with the answers. Has been my pleasure in the company of Raju Peethala and Mukesh to bring you this. This is Kumar Abhisekh Das bidding you ta ta ta!

Tom Latham, Player of the Match: Was nice to get on the board. Great game of cricket in the end. To get over the line was pleasing. The guys would take a lot of confidence from this game. The last couple of games we saw 180-190 wickets. We put them on the back foot with three wickets in the powerplay Was pleasing to hold our compusure in the end. Iftikhar played brilliantly. We bowled a lot better in the top 6. We did some good job in the middle with Sodhi and Ravindra. Was nice to contribute. You want to make sure you use the powerplay in these conditions. I guess we pride ourselves on our fielding and try to raise the bay every time we go out there.

Babar Azam: We didn't bat well. Including me. The wickets kept falling and the pressure kept building. The batting order has been kept flexible. Iftikhar was outstanding. We have depth in batting. Iftikhar can bat anywhere. Throughout the series, our bowling has been outstanding. Our plans have been executed in the bowling department. That's heartening to see as the youngsters are also executing their plans.

00:49 Local Time, 19:49 GMT, 01:19 IST: Pakistan were hapless Before and After Iftikhar. His relentless hitting which lasted for only 24 balls got them very close but the final hit didn't come off. Chasing 164, they were reduced to 88 for 7. The wicket looked a little sticky as well. But Iftikhar got together with Faheem and they put on a destructive show before Faheem fell with 15 still needed. Ahmed struck a six and a four in the final over before being dismissed by Neesham who held his nerves amidst the destruction caused by Iftikhar. Earlier, skipper Latham laid the foundation for a decent total of 163. Even NZ started off slowly but wickets in hand helped them. The series is still alive but Pakistan won't be that crestfallen as they know they played bad cricket today with the bat and still lost only by four runs.

Neesham to Haris Rauf, out Caught by Bowes!! And Neesham has done it. NZ stay alive in the series. They steal a win by 4 runs to make it 1-2 in the series. Was a length delivery, Haris Rauf went for the slog and failed to hit it clean. The man at deep mid came in and took it to ensure there are elated faces in the camp of NZ. Haris Rauf c Bowes b Neesham 0(2)

Neesham to Haris Rauf, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Neesham to Haris Rauf, no run, 5 needed off the final ball. Up for a Super Over? Was a length delivery, outside off, Haris Rauf looked to slog it and missed it. Neesham so far has managed to hold his nerves

Haris Rauf, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Neesham to Iftikhar Ahmed, out Caught by Mitchell!! That's a heartbreak for the Pakistan fans. Was a huge hit but went too much in the air. Was a length delivery, little slower, Iftikhar Ahmed went for the big slog but failed to beat the man at long-on. He is going to a rousing reception. But he has brought his team so close to a win here. Was a length delivery but the bat face turned a little I reckon. He didn't middle it. The man at long-on settled under it and took it. Iftikhar Ahmed c Mitchell b Neesham 60(24) [4s-3 6s-6]

Neesham to Iftikhar Ahmed, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Neesham to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR, walks across, sits down, gets hold of the low full toss and creams it past cover for a four. That was slammed away hard and past the man at long-off. He needs one more shot. Neesham can't believe it. He is batting on 60 off 23 balls

Neesham to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run, and angles it across from round the wicket and Iftikhar Ahmed looked to target the on-side and missed. That was a length delivery but Iftikhar Ahmed preempted a slog. 9 needed off 4 balls

Neesham to Iftikhar Ahmed, SIX, woah! This man is hammering them. Walks across, gets hold of the length delivery and that went well over deep square. The bowler bowled it from round the wicket and missed his mark

James Neesham [3.0-0-28-1] is back into the attack

The cool cat - Neesham - will bowl the final over. Can he trick the marauding Iftikhar Ahmed?

Matt Henry to Naseem Shah, no run, was a free swing for him but he misses again. Three misses in a row. Three dot balls in a row and that makes it 15 for Pakistan off the last 6 balls. The onus entirely on Iftikhar Ahmed

Matt Henry to Naseem Shah, no run, can hit a big ball. But Was that the right shot? Was banged in short, outside off, Naseem Shah stayed back and looked to pull but missed. Excellent comeback by Matt Henry

Matt Henry to Naseem Shah, no run, lame poke outside off and Naseem Shah gets beaten outside off as the ball seamed away

Naseem Shah, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Matt Henry to Faheem Ashraf, out Caught by Mitchell!! Hold on! Just when I wrote Pakistan's game to lose. New Zealand have gotten rid of the danger man. Was a low full toss, dipped on the batter and he dragged it down to deep long-on. The fielder charged in and took an excellent low catch. Some respite for NZ but they still have to deal with Iftikhar Ahmed. Faheem Ashraf c Mitchell b Matt Henry 27(14) [4s-2 6s-2]