Pakistan skipper relieved after beating New Zealand in fifth T20

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said it was “very important” his team avoided a whitewash series
loss to New Zealand after winning the fifth and final Twenty20 International
by 42 runs on Sunday.

The Black Caps capitulated for 92 in the face of some quality Pakistan spin
bowling, having been favoured to chase down the tourists’ 134-8.

Pakistan lost the five-match series 4-1 but Shaheen was pleased his first
stint as captain had ended on a winning note, after being outplayed through
the first four games.

He said the series was primarily seen as a chance to build towards the T20
World Cup in June but it would have been a setback to lose five from five.

“Today’s game was very important for us. We needed that as a unit to step
forward,” Shaheen said.

“In the first four games, there were a lot of collapses, as a fielding unit,
as a batting unit, but I think today we played as a team and we needed that
win.

“It’s not easy for any team to come here. And I think our mind is on the
World Cup. We’re just checking out every spot for every player and giving
chances to youngsters.”

Part-time off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed was handed the ball for the first time
in the series and produced career-best figures of 3-24 against a weakened New
Zealand batting lineup, who scored their second-lowest T20 total on home
soil.

Only opener Finn Allen (22) and Glenn Phillips (26) passed 20 as Pakistan
claimed the last eight wickets for 39 runs.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (2-18) was effective with the new ball, while
Shaheen claimed 2-20.

New Zealand were missing three of their first-choice batters: Kane Williamson
(knee injury), Devon Conway (Covid-19) and Daryl Mitchell (rested).

Captain Mitchell Santner said their poor chase exposed some chinks.

“We’ve looked pretty good batting first and defending but, looking at today,
we may need a bit of work chasing,” he said.

“In a chase like that, we talk about taking it as deep as we can and we
didn’t do that.

“But all in all a pretty good series. There were good signs, different guys
stepping up at different times and that’s what you want.”

Earlier, it appeared the home side had done enough to push for a clean sweep
through another disciplined bowling display.

Seamers Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson all claimed two scalps,
along with spinner Ish Sodhi.

Veteran Southee (2-19) dismissed debutant Haseebullah Khan in an opening
maiden over and returned in the 13th over to remove the dangerous Fakhar
Zaman, who had raced to 33 off 16 balls.

Top-scorer Mohammad Rizwan departed soon afterwards for 38 off 38.

New Zealand next face a two-Test home series against South Africa while
Pakistan’s next international fixtures are five T20s at home to New Zealand
in April. (BSS/AFP)