Mark Chapman hit an unbeaten 87 to lead a weak New Zealand to a shock seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third Twenty20 international in Rawalpindi on Sunday. The 29-year-old left-hander hit his runs off 42 balls to anchor New Zealand’s chase of a target of 179 runs in 18.2 overs against a much-vaunted Pakistan bowling attack, silencing a sell-out holiday crowd of 16,000. Shadab Khan (41) and Babar Azam (37) were the main contributors in Pakistan’s 178-4 after the hosts were sent in to bat. Tim Robinson made 28 off 19 balls and Tim Seifert 21 off 16 to set the tone for New Zealand’s chase. New Zealand were already strongly positioned at 53-2 in the sixth over before Chapman and Dean Foxcroft (31) took over, adding a solid 117-run third-wicket partnership to level the five-match series at 1-1.
Pakistan won the second game by seven wickets, while the first game was washed out after just two balls – both also in Rawalpindi.
Captain Michael Bracewell, appointed captain after several players were left out due to playing in the Indian Premier League, unavailability and injuries, praised his team’s effort.
“I think the partnership between Foxy and Chapman was excellent,” Bracewell said. “Really happy with how the guys put what they learned last night.”
Pakistan captain Azam regretted leaving Chapman in the 16th and 36th overs.
“We started well with the ball in the first six overs, but when you take catches from a batsman, he takes the game away from you,” Azam said.
“Chapman has always done well against us.”
Chapman, whose only T20I hundred came at the same venue last year, smashed four sixes and nine fours in his eighth half-century in the format.
Azam brought on spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 15th over with 61 to defend, but Chapman hit two fours. He then hit two sixes and two more fours in Naseem Shah’s next over to reduce the target to 21 off 24 balls.
Fast bowler Abbas Afridi (2-27) dismissed Foxcroft, but by then New Zealand were just nine away from victory. Chapman and Jimmy Neesham (six not out) hit the target with ten balls to spare.
Earlier, Shadab hit two sixes and four fours while Azam hit four fours and a six.
Opener Saim Ayub scored a 22-ball 32 and Muhammad Irfan Khan scored a 20-ball 30 not out as Pakistan added 54 in the last five overs.
Azam and left-hander Ayub gave Pakistan a brisk start of 55 as the duo played some aggressive shots.
Shadab and Irfan powered the innings with a quick 62-run stand for the fourth wicket.
For New Zealand, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi was the best bowler with 2-25.
The last two matches will be in Lahore on April 25th and 27th.
Both teams are preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup in June in the United States and West Indies.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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