PAK VS NZ - 4th T20I, New Zealand tour of Pakistan, 2023

So, that's it from our side. The 4th T20I having being called of means that the Kiwis can't have a shot at winning the series but they still have an opportunity to level the series with a win in the final game. Pakistan will be giving it their all as they recently lost a closely-fought T20I series against Afghanistan. Let's hope rain stays away and we get to witness a high-octane 5th T20I between these two sides on the 24th of April. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

23:05 Local Time, 18:05 GMT, 23:35 IST: The live visuals from the stadium reveal that there are pools of water on the ground. And, this was on the cards! The match has been called off. After NZ were put into bat on a good-looking surface, Latham struck three free-flowing boundaries off Shaheen Afridi in the first over and it looked like it will be his night. But not to be, as Imad got the better of him as he fell to a miscued sweep shot. Young departed cheaply too but Bowes looked fluent from the get-go. Even Mitchell was outsmarted by Imad as he picked up his third wicket, putting NZ in a spot of bother. Bowes and Chapman stitched a 54-run stand for the 4th wicket to steady the ship for their side. The Pindi pitch contrary to its nature did play a bit slow and some balls kept low as well, inducing a few false strokes. Afridi returned to send back the dangerous looking Bowes after his fifty but Chapman kept growing in confidence as he got his eye in, scoring boundaries at will. But, a hailstorm accompanied by rain appeared out of nowhere to bring a halt in play 7 balls before the close of first innings. It was just a matter of time and the rain had the final say! Unfortunate really..

22:29 Local Time, 17:29 GMT, 22:59 IST: Well, well, there is a hailstorm in Pindi! Who would have expected this? Quite a sight! It is summer season in Pakistan and look, the whole ground is covered in white. The groundsmen are ducking under the cover. A fascinating sight for sure but not good for cricket. Let's hope it eases out and the rain stops so that the fans can have their money worth.

22:25 Local Time, 17:25 GMT, 22:55 IST: Well that did not take too long. The rain has come and the groundstaff are in with the covers. We will have a break in play. Hopefully this is a short delay. Spectators too ducking for cover.

Haris Rauf to Ravindra, out Caught by Babar Azam!! Straight up and caught at cover. The slower ball on a fuller length on off, Ravindra gets forward to loft and skies it off the toe-end, Babar calmly takes the skier. Ravindra c Babar Azam b Haris Rauf 8(12)

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

Haris Rauf to Chapman, 1 run, Haris Rauf went for the yorker, as he followed Chapman outside the leg-stump with a low full-toss, driven square of the wicket on the off-side

Haris Rauf to Chapman, SIX, what a shot! Chapman comes down the track and it's the slower ball into a length on the stumps, Chapman flicks and connects beautifully, into the crowd at deep mid-wicket

Haris Rauf to Ravindra, leg byes, 1 run, seam-up and back of a length angling into the body, Ravindra pulls and misses, an appeal for LBW is turned down, nothing going for it

Haris Rauf to Ravindra, no run, slower ball off-cutter outside off, Ravindra slogs and misses

Haris Rauf [3.0-0-28-0] is back into the attack

Rain in the air and the groundstaff are getting ready.

Shaheen Afridi to Ravindra, 1 run, good yorker on the stumps to finish, Ravindra digs it out on to his pad and takes a single to cover

Shaheen Afridi to Ravindra, no run, lovely delivery, slower ball just outside off, deceives Ravindra who swings and misses

Shaheen Afridi to Ravindra, 2 runs, fullish and just outside off, heaved off a thick inside half to deep mid-wicket and they come back for a quick second

Shaheen Afridi to Chapman, leg byes, 1 run, Shaheen Afridi is shaking his head. The decision from umpire Rashid Riaz does not go in his favor. Full and speared into leg-stump, Chapman misses the heave, hit on the back leg, Afridi was screaming and was on his haunches appealing for the LBW, does not get it. Babar takes the review and it's just clipping leg-stump, so ump's call and goes in favor of New Zealand. Afridi can't believe it and has a rueful glance at Rashid

Big appeal for LBW and Babar has reviewed. Is this sliding down leg? Wickets is ump's call and Shaheen Afridi can only look ruefully at umpire Rashid Riaz.

Shaheen Afridi to Chapman, FOUR, full and wide outside off, width and Chapman has crashed the square drive wide of backward point and no chance for sweeper cover

Shaheen Afridi to Chapman, no run, Shaheen Afridi goes for the slower ball length ball outside off, Chapman steps out and swings, misses, Rizwan fumbles but recovers well

Shaheen Afridi to Chapman, wide, fired down leg, Chapman looks for the scoop and misses, Rizwan dives to his right and saves runs as the ball is half-stopped