Pak vs NZ: Pakistan opt to bat first in T20I series finale

CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan aim to salvage pride and end the five-match Twenty20 International series on a positive note after losing the series 4-0.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first at the picturesque Hagley Oval in the last and final T20I. 

With both teams introducing changes to their line-ups, Pakistan aimed for a spin-heavy strategy. Haseebullah Khan, Usama Mir, and Abbas Afridi were brought in, replacing Saim Ayub, Mohamed Wasim, and Haris Rauf, respectively.

The penultimate match saw Pakistan succumb to a seven-wicket defeat, with New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips orchestrating a match-winning 139-run partnership. Rizwan's resilient 90-run knock couldn't prevent the loss.

In a strategic move, New Zealand rested Daryl Mitchell for the final T20I, allowing Rachin Ravindra to showcase his skills.

New Zealand's dominance throughout the series, marked by Finn Allen's explosive batting and Mitchell's all-round brilliance, underscored their T20 excellence. Conversely, Pakistan struggled to find consistency.

The Kiwis faced a setback with the absence of Devon Conway in the previous match due to a positive COVID-19 test. The team awaited a decision on his availability for the series finale.

Pakistan looked to make a statement in the final match, emphasising the importance of a positive outcome as they gear up for future challenges, including the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Haseebullah Khan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Sahibzada Farhan, Abbas Afridi and Zaman Khan

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson