League: IPL
New Zealand tightened their grip on the T20I series against Pakistan with a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the third encounter. The hero of the day was Mark Chapman, who played a sensational knock to chase down Pakistan’s target with ease and help the Black Caps equal the series.
Pakistan, after after being asked to bat first, posted a competitive total. Openers Saim Ayub (32), Babar Azam (37) gave Pakistan a decent start to take Pakistan to a big score. However, the middle-order faltered. A late cameo from Shadab Khan (41), however, helped the hosts reach a somewhat respectable 178/8. New Zealand’s veteran Ish Sodhi impressed with his economical spell, picking up two wickets for just 25 runs.
Needing 179 for victory, New Zealand openers Dean Foxcroft (31) and Tom Robinson (28) got them off to a steady start. However, the middle overs saw a flurry of wickets, putting some pressure on the Kiwis. Enter Mark Chapman. The batter, known for his aggressive strokeplay, took the bowling attack head-on. He smashed nine boundaries and four sixes in his unbeaten 87, propelling New Zealand towards victory with 1.8 overs remaining.