NZ VS PAK - 5th T20I, Pakistan tour of New Zealand, 2024

Pakistan end their twin tours down under on a happy note, but the reality is that they lost the Tests by a 3-0 margin to Australia and the T20Is by a 1-4 margin to t New Zealand. Not much to gain from the 5-match series for the visitors, but the hosts did have a great time, ticking most of the boxes. The two teams will go in different ways now - New Zealand will prepare for their WTC clash against South Africa while Pakistan will go back home for their T20 league, the PSL. Lots of cricket going around, so change tabs and follow all the action. For now, cheers and bye..

16:15 Local Time, 03:15 GMT, 08:45 IST: A 42-run win for the visitors, it didn't look like ending this way when they struggled for most part with the bat, but they mustered up enough runs and then played their cards well on a slightly slow and tacky surface. Spin and pace off the ball was the key and they did so magnificently - they bowled 12 overs of spin and with Iftikhar's 3-wicket burst coming as an absolute bonus. New Zealand lost Rachin early and it was an uphill struggle for them - Allen briefly threatened, Seifert stalled on a tricky surface and the middle-order collapsed. Glenn Phillips waged a lone battle, but it was too much for one man to do as the hosts collapsed for 92.

Shaheen Afridi to Ferguson, out Bowled!! Pakistan avoid the whitewash - Shaheen has his first T20I win as captain and he nails the final blow, a pin-point yorker, right at the base of middle, Ferguson backed away on the slog and missed, turns back to hear the death rattle. Ferguson b Shaheen Afridi 0(1)

Shaheen Afridi to Ferguson, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Lockie Ferguson, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Shaheen Afridi to Glenn Phillips, out Caught by Abbas Afridi!! That's the end of Phillips and Pakistan can feel the win now. Slower short ball from Shaheen, he rolled his fingers across the seam and gave no pace for the right-hander - Phillips had to play his shots, rocks back and thumps the pull over mid-wicket, but Abbas moves swiftly to his left in the deep and slides to complete a fine catch. Glenn Phillips c Abbas Afridi b Shaheen Afridi 26(22) [4s-1 6s-1]

Shaheen Afridi to Glenn Phillips, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Iftikhar Ahmed to Glenn Phillips, 1 run, Farhan has now dropped a catch, a tough one though, came running in, slid forward, got both hands and can't hold on - was flighted outside off and Phillips went down on his knees as he slapped a flat-batted pull

Iftikhar Ahmed to Glenn Phillips, SIX, Farhan has taken the catch at deep mid-wicket, but he's stepped onto the ropes as well, so that's a maximum - slower and shorter on middle and leg, Phillips backed away and got enough on the pull, Farhasn watched it all along, took the catch and his next step was on the ropes

Iftikhar Ahmed to Glenn Phillips, FOUR, much needed boundary for Phillips, but NZ need many more of these - backs away to a flat delivery and then cuts it off the stumps, places it in front of square on the off-side and beats the man in the deep

Iftikhar Ahmed to Southee, 1 run, flighted delivery on off, Southee doesn't get any thiming on this slog and the ball rolls down to long-on

Iftikhar Ahmed to Southee, no run, another slower off-break, Southee backs away and swings way too early

Iftikhar Ahmed to Glenn Phillips, 1 run, Phillips is still happy to take the single, slower off-break as he backed away, bashed down to long-off

Shaheen Afridi to Southee, no run, Pakistan have reviewed for LBW, but Southee would've been miles short had there been a direct hit at his end once again. Was a toe-crusher as he backed away, but the impact itself is outside leg, so that's a poor review from Shaheen - the ball jammed off his toe towards short third and Southee set-off for a quick single, his partner wasn't going anywhere though, leaving Southee stranded in the middle. The fielder has all the three stumps to aim and he misses

Shaheen Afridi to Glenn Phillips, 1 run, fuller length delivery on off, dragged down to long-on for a single

Shaheen Afridi to Southee, 1 run, slower ball outside off - Southee is decieved by the change of pace, is through with the shot early and pops it in the air towards cover. He's off for a quick single and would've been struggling had there been a direct hit at his end

Shaheen Afridi to Southee, no run, short of a good length and angling across the right-hander, Southee swishes hard and misses

Shaheen Afridi to Glenn Phillips, 1 run, full-toss outside off, driven towards deep cover and Phillips will get only a single

Shaheen Afridi to Glenn Phillips, 2 runs, slower short ball from Shaheen, width on offer and Phillips threw his hands on the cut, slices it wide of backward point and is back for the second

Shaheen Afridi [2.0-0-15-0] is back into the attack