Black Caps win thriller over Pakistan to keep Twenty20 series hopes alive

New Zealand's Mark Chapman, right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed. Photo / AP

Black Caps 163/5

Pakistan 159 all out

Sweep avoided now the Black Caps can set their eyes on a maiden Twenty20 series win in Pakistan after surviving a remarkable late flurry from Iftikhar Ahmed in Lahore.

The Black Caps won by four runs but midway through the final over it appeared they’d thrown the match and the series.

Arriving at the crease with his side struggling at 64-6 in their chase of 164 to win the third match and the series, Iftikhar smashed 60 off 24 to get them within touching distance of a great win.

Pakistan’s unlikely ask of 72 off the final 30 balls turned to 15 needed off the last over in the blink of an eye and when Iftikhar hit a six and a four off the first three balls of the 20th over bowled by James Neesham, it looked like the hosts were set to clinch a remarkable comeback.

But Iftikhar, who finished with six sixes, fell five metres short of another big hit and then Haris Rauf was caught in the deep going for the winning slog with five needed off the final ball as Neesham’s cooler head prevailed with the match on the line. Neesham finished with 3-38 while captain Tom Latham was named man of the match after setting the tone in the New Zealand innings.

Latham made 64 from 49 balls putting on a crucial 65 for the third wicket with Daryl Mitchell (33 from 26) before Haris Rauf pegged things back for the hosts.

Some late boundaries from Mark Chapham, Neesham and Rachin Ravindra saw the Black Caps reach 163 for five.

The New Zealand bowlers then hunted as a pack improving on accuracy from their previous two defeats. It all looked pointed to an early night with Pakistan struggling at 64 for six before Iftikhar and Faheem Ashraf (27 off 14) almost swung the match.

“It was a great game of cricket. We were pleased to get a competitive total on the board and it’s satisfying to get across the line and keep the series alive,” Latham said after the win.

“I think the whole squad will take a lot of confidence from this match moving forward. What set up the win for us was the three early wickets in the powerplay that I thought pegged them back slightly. Sodhi and Ravindra were superb for us through the middle phases. It was very nice to contribute at the top of the order and make full use of the powerplay. We pride ourselves on our fielding and keep the bar high everytime we set foot into the middle.”

The Black Caps struck regularly throughout the Pakistan innings as the hosts struggled to 88 for seven.

“We didn’t bat well enough,” captain Babar Azam said. “The pressure kept building throughout the run chase, (but) Iftikhar delivered and Faheem also chipped in with crucial runs.”

Babar, who smashed a century on Saturday, was out for one after Rachin Ravindra’s spectacular diving catch at third man in the second over. Chad Bowes smartly ran out Mohammad Rizwan for six in the fourth over.