New Zealand delivered a brutal performance in the fourth Twenty20 match on Sunday, securing a commanding 115-run victory over Pakistan and clinching the five-match series with a 3-1 lead.
Defending a formidable total of 220-6 at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand bowled out Pakistan for a meager 105 in just 17 overs. The relentless pace attack from Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes proved too much for Pakistan to handle. Duffy starred with impressive figures of 4-20, while Foulkes contributed with 3-25. This crushing defeat marked Pakistan’s biggest-ever loss in T20s by runs, surpassing their previous record of a 95-run loss to New Zealand in Wellington nine years ago.
Pakistan’s top order crumbled under pressure, with the visitors finding themselves at a disastrous 9-3 after just two overs. Duffy played a key role in dismantling the Pakistan batting lineup, taking two wickets in his first over, both caught behind by wicketkeeper Mitch Hay. His first victim was opener Hasan Nawaz, who had only managed to score a single run. Nawaz’s unfortunate dismissal came just days after his heroics in the third T20 match, where he scored a maiden century to keep the series alive.
By the time Pakistan reached 56-8, the game seemed all but over. However, allrounder Abdul Samad fought back with a valuable 44 off 30 balls, offering a glimmer of hope for Pakistan. Irfan Khan also added 24 runs, but the rest of the batting order collapsed swiftly, leaving New Zealand with a dominant win.
This victory was New Zealand’s second-largest T20 win by runs, nearly matching their 119-run demolition of the West Indies in 2018 at the same Bay Oval venue.
Earlier in the match, New Zealand set the stage with a strong batting display. Finn Allen raced to a rapid 50 off just 20 balls, while Tim Seifert contributed 44 from 22 balls, forming a solid opening partnership worth 59 runs. Seifert was the first to be dismissed, as seamer Haris Rauf took 3-27. Allen’s aggressive 50 included six fours and three sixes, and captain Michael Bracewell finished strongly, blasting an unbeaten 46 from 26 balls in the death overs.
The series will conclude with the fifth match in Wellington on Wednesday, where Pakistan will look to salvage some pride after a series of setbacks.
