Tauranga, Jan. 28 (TNS): The New Zealand cricket team have stumbled to an 18-run loss in their series deciding T20 match against Pakistan in Tauranga.
The two teams went into the match locked up one-all in the best of three series after a resurgent Pakistani side took the second game in Auckland by 48 runs.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat infront of a crowd of more than 7000, quickly capitalising on some poor fielding by the Black Caps to post 181 for six.
Fast bowler @iamamirofficial is the Man of the Series for his impressive bowling in the #NZvPAK T20I series pic.twitter.com/duVC1UeQ46
— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) January 28, 2018
All the Pakistan top six batsmen posted double figures with Fakhar Zaman leading with 46 runs from 36 balls.
The Black Caps, missing the power hitting Colin Munro through injury, struggled to get underway after losing captain Kane Williamson early for 9.
Martin Guptil posted 59 from 43 balls and Ross Taylor pitched in with 25 from 11 but the Pakistani bowlers struck regularly and starved the remaining Black Caps batsmen with New Zealand falling short with 163 for 6.
The 18-run victory gives the Pakistan a 2-one series lead and takes Pakistan to the top of the world’s T20 rankings.
Pakistan’s series win comes after they were whitewashed 5-0 by the Black Caps in the ODI series.
The Black Caps now head over the Tasman for the opening game of the Tri series involving Australia and England on Feburary 3.
