PAK VS NZ - 4th T20I, New Zealand tour of Pakistan, 2024

That's all from our side for tonight. We will be back day after tomorrow for the final T20I from the same venue. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

Michael Bracewell: When you learn about young guys is when the team is under pressure. The Pakistan bowlers bowled particularly well in the death and restricted us to a par score. The way Tim and Blundell got off at the start, they put us on top and we thought about getting 200 in the end but credit to the Pakistani bowlers for restricting us. It’s a huge positive for us that we are able to give experience to new guys. We got a brilliant all-rounder in James Neesham bowling in the backend. William ORourke had a particularly brilliant game and our bowling was good at the death.

Babar Azam: They started off nicely but our bowlers made a good comeback, we stuck to a length. In first six overs, we lost quite a number of wickets, Fakhar’s innings was outstanding, unfortunately we couldn’t chase it down. Imad also played a good innings. It was a different surface, the average score here is 190 and we did well to restrict them and it was a chaseable total. We made some changes due to injuries but our youngsters did well. Our plan was to test our bench strength and we tried out different combinations. We are trying something new and different in every game. Hopefully, we will be settled before going to the T20 World Cup.

William ORourke | Player of the Match: I saw them going to the slower balls and we also focused on bowling slower ones. New ball skidding on nicely, we got off to a good start, taking pace off the ball made the batters struggle. We come together and talk what happened, we learn from every match. It’s been amazing, the crowd is very loud out there.

23:01 Local Time, 18:01 GMT, 23:31 IST: We have witnessed a nail-biter at Lahore and the Kiwis have prevailed eventually in the duel! Once New Zealand posted 178 on the board, they must have had the belief in themselves to defend it as the wicket was holding up a bit. Pakistan lost their skipper, Babar Azam early courtesy ORourke and that set them back. Ayub looked promising in his short stay but holed out. Usman couldn't make an impact tonight as the hosts were in a bit of trouble at 46/3. Shadab struggled for rhythm as well and his short stay was brought to an end by Bracewell. Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar joined hands and did the rebuilding job. Once they got their eye in, they played their shots as well and stitched a 59-run stand together. But, Iftikhar fell against the run of play and Fakhar also fell soon after scoring his fifty. Imad Wasim came in and played a breezy cameo but he had too much to do. Pakistan needed a maximum off the final ball and Neesham kept his cool and delivered for his side. William ORourke and Ben Sears were the pick of the bowlers for the visitors. Stick around for the presentations...

Neesham to Imad Wasim, 1 run, Neesham holds his nerves! A full ball wide outside off, Imad Wasim has to reach out to it and can only carve it to sweeper cover for a single. A brilliant game! Customary handshakes all around! NZ take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series

Long-off in place now. 6 runs needed off 1 ball!

Neesham to Imad Wasim, FOUR, Imad Wasim finds the boundary and the crowd is up on its feet! A pitched up ball on off, Imad Wasim hits it over mid-off and finds the fence. Was a percentage shot with no long-off in place

10 needed off 2 balls!

Neesham to Imad Wasim, wide, that will help! A full ball shaping away from Imad Wasim and cuts the tramline, wided

11 runs needed off 2 balls! Can Imad take his side home?

Neesham to Imad Wasim, 2 runs, a full ball around off, Imad Wasim can't get underneath it as he hits it towards long-on and rushes back for the second run

Neesham to Amir, 1 run, full ball wide outside off, Amir reaches out to it and places it through point to bring Imad Wasim back on strike

Mohammad Amir, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Pakistan need 14 runs off 4 balls!

Neesham to Usama Mir, out Bowled!! Knocked him over! Brilliant comeback from Neesham! Fast yorker length ball, tailing in, Usama Mir swings across the line and misses as the ball crashes into the stumps. Actually, it deflected off his back leg and shattered the stumps. This game is turning out to be a nail-biter. Usama Mir b Neesham 5(3) [4s-1]

Neesham to Usama Mir, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Neesham to Usama Mir, FOUR, perfect start for Pakistan in the final over! A fullish ball well outside off, Usama Mir gets low in his stance and slices it over backward point to find the fence

James Neesham [1.0-0-8-0] is back into the attack

Pakistan need 18 off 6 balls!