Series Sealed in Style — New Zealand Go 3–0 Up!
New Zealand won the toss for the third time in a row and batted first. Tim Seifert blasted 16 off just 4 balls before falling early, but Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway took charge, attacking Abbas Afridi — the bowler who troubled them earlier in the series. By the time Shaheen Afridi removed Ravindra and Abbas got Conway, the Kiwis were already racing past 110.
Then came the fireworks. Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman tore into Usama Mir, smashing 26 runs in a single over. Just as Pakistan looked doomed, Shadab Khan struck back, dismissing Phillips with his first ball and then removing Chapman (39 off 15) before cleaning up Bracewell too. Mitchell’s run-out added to the collapse, but late cameos from Santner and Ferguson pushed New Zealand to 160/7 — their highest total of the series. Shadab was the standout with the ball, finishing 3/20.
Pakistan’s chase needed a dream start, and Saim Ayub delivered. Fearless strokeplay saw him smash 44 off just 16 balls, taking Pakistan to 48 in no time with Rizwan alongside. But once Rizwan fell to Phillips and Ayub was run out just shy of a fifty, the innings unraveled.
Babar Azam’s struggles continued, falling cheaply to Southee, while Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, and Shadab all departed in quick succession. From 91/2 in 5 overs, Pakistan collapsed to 124/9, falling 36 runs short.
New Zealand sealed the series 3–0 with one game to spare, their batting led by Chapman and Conway, and their bowlers once again dismantling Pakistan’s middle order. For Pakistan, only Ayub’s fearless knock and Shadab’s superb spell offered positives in an otherwise disappointing night.
The Black Caps march on — the series is theirs. Can Pakistan avoid the whitewash?