NZ vs PAK 2025, 3rd T20I Review: Nawaz's blitzkrieg century helps Pakistan chase 205 with ease

New Zealand met Pakistan for the third T20I of the series at Eden Park, Auckland on Friday, March 21. The visitors won the toss and elected to chase on a flat deck.

The Kiwi opening pair of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, which has been successful so far, failed on this occasion. Allen (0 off 3) was out caught at short fine leg by Haris Rauf who plucked a stunner. Mark Chapman came out next, and he and Seifert built a quick but short partnership before the latter was dismissed for 19 runs off nine balls.

Chapman was going well and Daryl Mitchell (17 off 11), who joined him, supported him decently. The Kiwis kept losing wickets at regular intervals but Chapman was going strong at one end. As a result, the run rate did not drop much. Chapman was finally out in the 13th over for a well-made 94 runs off 44 balls. Skipper Michael Bracewell provided a late impetus to the innings as he scored 31 runs off 18 balls, leading New Zealand to 204 all out from 19.5 overs.

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Pakistan openers were on fire right from the start. Initially, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris took the lead as three-game-old Hasan Nawaz, who was out for ducks in the first two matches, took some time to get his footing right. And when he did, there was no looking back as he too joined the party and started smashing the Kiwi bowlers for fours and sixes. Haris (41 off 20) was out just before the powerplay ended. Pakistan at this stage were 74/1 from 5.5 overs.

The onslaught did not stop as skipper Salman Ali Agha joined Haris. The duo kept going at the target hammer and tongs. The bowlers were not able to find a way to stop the run flow or even buy a wicket. Agha (51* off 31) reached his half-century and notably Nawaz scored not only his maiden hundred but also the fastest T20I century for Pakistan in just 44 balls. He finished at 105* off 45 balls, scoring 10 fours and seven sixes as Pakistan won the match by nine wickets and four overs remaining.

The match was a forgettable one for the bowlers who went for a lot of runs. However, Rauf stood out with 3/29 off four overs. Nawaz, for his scintillating hundred, was adjudged the Player of the Match.

The next match will be played on Sunday, March 23 at Mount Maunganui.