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Cricket

'Isse achha toh ye khelne hi nhi jaate' - Fans react as New Zealand thrash Pakistan by 45 runs in 3rd T20I to seal the series

In a stunning display of batting prowess, Finn Allen led New Zealand to a resounding 45-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20I at the University Oval in Dunedin.

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Mathew K
New Update
New Zealand batter Finn Allen thrash Pakistan

New Zealand batter Finn Allen thrash Pakistan (Source: Twitter)

In a stunning display of batting prowess, Finn Allen led New Zealand to a resounding 45-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20I at the University Oval in Dunedin. With this win, the Black Caps secured an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.

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Allen's magnificent innings saw him break a 12-year-old record held by Brendon McCullum as he notched up the highest individual score in T20I cricket for New Zealand. His extraordinary century, comprising 137 runs off just 62 deliveries, included five boundaries and a remarkable 16 sixes. Allen's brilliance, coupled with a strong partnership of 125 runs with Tim Seifert, powered New Zealand to a commanding total of 224 for 7 after opting to bat first.

In pursuit of the challenging target, Pakistan faced early setbacks with the dismissal of opener Saim Ayub. Despite the efforts of Mohammad Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam, the visitors struggled to keep pace with the mounting required run rate. Rizwan contributed 24 runs before falling to Mitchell Santner, while Babar Azam continued his impressive form with a half-century, scoring 58 runs off 37 deliveries.

Babar Azam failed to get Pakistan over the rope

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However, wickets fell at regular intervals around Babar Azam, with Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, and Iftikhar Ahmed failing to make significant contributions. As the required run rate soared, Babar Azam attempted to accelerate but was dismissed by Ish Sodhi in the 16th over.

Despite commendable cameos from Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi towards the end, Pakistan fell short of the target, finishing with 179 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. New Zealand's bowlers, led by spinners Santner and Sodhi, played a crucial role in restricting the visitors.

With this victory, New Zealand sealed the T20I series, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead. The teams are set to clash again at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Friday, January 19, for the fourth match of the series. The Black Caps will aim to maintain their dominance, while Pakistan will look to salvage pride in the remaining encounters.

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Here is how fans react to New Zealandโ€™s victory:

New Zealand Pakistan featured Finn Allen