Pakistan vs New Zealand Tri-series Final Highlights: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 5 wickets

Shaheen Afridi to Devon Conway, Length again and on off, Devon Conway guides it to point.

Shaheen Afridi to Will Young, On a length and just outside off, angling away, Will Young is late to take his bat away and it goes off the face towards third man for a single.

Shaheen Afridi to Will Young, Oh..close! Shaheen Afridi nails the inswinging yorker, on middle, Will Young does well to dig it out.

Shaheen Afridi to Will Young, Goes fuller again and on middle, shaping in, Will Young knocks it towards mid on.

Shaheen Afridi to Will Young, Good length and just outside off, Will Young stabs it to point.

Shaheen Afridi to Will Young, FOUR! New Zealand gets underway in style! Shaheen Afridi starts with a fuller one and on off, no swing. Will Young strides out and just pushes at it. He times it beautifully through covers for the first boundary of the chase,

We are back with New Zealand's reply! The two umpires are making their way out to the centre and the Pakistan team are in a close-knit huddle alongside the ropes before spreading out in the field. Devon Conway and Will Young are the openers out for New Zealand. Shaheen Afridi has the new ball in hand and will start the proceedings in this final inning. Away we go.

... THE RUN CHASE ...

New Zealand’s bowlers delivered a top-class performance, but their fielding let them down with a few dropped chances and misjudgments that they might come to regret. Will O’Rourke was the standout performer, ripping through the batting lineup with four wickets, while skipper Mitch Santner bowled a masterclass spell of 10 overs giving away just 20 runs, and getting two scalps. Michael Bracewell also chipped in with two wickets, keeping the pressure on throughout. While 243 isn’t an intimidating target, the pitch hasn’t been easy to bat on, which could make things interesting. Pakistan’s bowlers will back themselves to make a real contest out of this, but if the dew factor comes into play, New Zealand might chase this down comfortably. Stay tuned as the run chase is about to get underway in a bit!

Michael Bracewell, the birthday boy, is up for a quick chat. He says that the wicket looks pretty decent but it is also two paced. Adds that it is helping the spinners as well and hopes for the dew to come in later and the pitch to play better under lights. Mentions that it is a 'Hit the wicket' hard kind of a pitch. Further says that it will be pretty tough to keep the modern players guessing and there is so much power out there that it will be hard to contain. Concludes by saying that they are confident of chasing it down.

Muhammad Tayyab Tahir then injected some much-needed intent, something the rest of the batting lineup lacked with a brisk 38-run cameo. Just as Pakistan looked to seize momentum, another wicket fell, undoing their hard work once again. However, valuable lower-order contributions from Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah ensured Pakistan went down fighting, pushing the total closer to the 250-run mark. While it may not be a massive score, it certainly gives them something to bowl at, setting up an intriguing second innings.

Just when things looked bleak, Muhammad Rizwan and Muhammad Salman Ali came to the rescue, stitching together a resilient 88-run stand to stabilize the innings. However, New Zealand’s spinners offered no breathing room, making run-scoring a challenge despite both batters getting starts. At 122/3 after 30 overs, Pakistan were looking to push the tempo, but just as Rizwan was shifting gears, Will O’Rourke returned and struck to send him back. Soon after, Michael Bracewell removed Muhammad Salman Ali, dealing Pakistan another massive blow.

Pakistan’s decision to bat first after winning the toss was always a gamble, especially with the looming threat of dew in the second innings, making a big total imperative. Babar Azam struggled to find his rhythm early, while Fakhar Zaman came out swinging, taking risks from the outset. However, Will O’Rourke’s relentless opening spell asked all the right questions, leading to Fakhar’s dismissal. That breakthrough triggered a mini-collapse, with Pakistan losing two more wickets within 12 overs, putting themselves under immense pressure.

An exceptional bowling effort from the Kiwis ensured Pakistan fell short of the 250-run mark, getting bowled out for 242 runs. It was nothing short of a complete team performance from New Zealand, who head into the break brimming with confidence, knowing they have a golden opportunity to chase down this total and seal the series.

Will O’Rourke to Naseem Shah, OUT! TAKEN! Will O’Rourke wraps things up with a four-fer! He goes fuller and on middle. Naseem Shah backs away and lofts it with a straight bat over the bowler's head. It looks like it is going over but Michael Bracewell from long on moves backwards and sideways to his left in and plucks it out of thin air. Pakistan have been bowled out for 242!

Will O’Rourke to Abrar Ahmed, Short of a length and on middle, Abrar Ahmed swats it to long on for a single.

Abrar Ahmed is the last batter in for Pakistan. 

Will O’Rourke to Faheem Ashraf, OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Will O’Rourke gets his third! He serves this full and on middle, takes pace off. Faheem Ashraf looks to go big down the ground but fails to get the timing right as the ball hits him high on the bat. It flies in the air over mid on where Mitch Santner backtracks and takes a good catch. Finally, the Kiwis hold on to one here. Pakistan are 241/9 now! Can they reach the 250 mark here? 

Nathan Smith to Naseem Shah, FOUR! Flayed! Short of a length, on off, Naseem Shah hops high and slices it off the outer half of the bat and over short third for a boundary. Crucial runs this!

Nathan Smith to Faheem Ashraf, Touch fuller and on middle, Faheem Ashraf lofts it on the bounce to long on for one.

Nathan Smith to Faheem Ashraf, DROPPED AGAIN! Would you believe it? Glenn Phillips has put down a catch. Bangs this one short and on middle, slower too. Faheem Ashraf goes through his pull early and mistimes it towards deep mid-wicket. Phillips runs to his right and tries to grab it with both hands. It goes through and then hits his thigh and pops up. He tries to take it while lying down but fails to do so. Two runs taken. Ashraf is living a charmed life here!

Nathan Smith to Naseem Shah, On a length and on middle, Naseem Shah flicks it to deep square leg for a run.

Nathan Smith to Faheem Ashraf, Back of a length and well outside off, Faheem Ashraf reaches for it and toe-ends it towards long off for a single.

Nathan Smith to Faheem Ashraf, FOUR! Fine shot! Short of a length and outside off. Faheem Ashraf frees his arms and crunches it through point for a boundary. Good start to the over for Pakistan!

Change from the other end too? Yes, Nathan Smith comes back. His figures are 6-0-33-1 so far. 

Will O’Rourke to Faheem Ashraf, Hits the length hard and on middle, angling in, Faheem Ashraf tries to pull but misses as the ball goes off his pads towards square leg. A leg bye is taken.

Will O’Rourke to Faheem Ashraf, On a length but down the leg, Faheem Ashraf misses his flick. Wided.

Will O’Rourke to Faheem Ashraf, DROPPED AND FOUR! A rare sight! Will O’Rourke bangs this one into the pitch and around leg. Faheem Ashraf swivels and hooks but straight towards fine leg. Jacob Duffy tries to reverse cup it but takes it a bit casually. It pops up and rolls to the fence for a bodunary.

Will O’Rourke to Naseem Shah, Hard length and around off, Naseem Shah runs it down to third man again for another run.

Will O’Rourke to Faheem Ashraf, Good length and on off, Faheem Ashraf steers it to point for a run.

Will O’Rourke to Naseem Shah, Short of a length and around off, Naseem Shah guides it to third man for a single.

Will O’Rourke to Naseem Shah, Back of a length and on off, Naseem Shah dabs it to point.

Will O’Rourke (8-0-34-2) comes back into the attack. 

Glenn Phillips to Naseem Shah, Fires one full and on middle, Naseem Shah flicks it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Glenn Phillips to Naseem Shah, Flighted, full and on middle, Naseem Shah clips it to short mid-wicket.

Glenn Phillips to Naseem Shah, SIX! Much-needed for Pakistan! Floated, full and on middle, angling in. Naseem Shah dances down the track and smacks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Glenn Phillips to Faheem Ashraf, Short and on middle, Faheem Ashraf punches it to long on for a run.

Glenn Phillips to Naseem Shah, Quicker, full and on off, Naseem Shah steers it through point for a single.

Glenn Phillips to Naseem Shah, Flatter, full and angling down the leg, Naseem Shah strangely pads it away.

Mitch Santner to Faheem Ashraf, Short again and outside off, Faheem Ashraf punches it to sweeper covers for one. Mitch Santner finishes his spell with incredible figures of (10-1-20-2)

Mitch Santner to Faheem Ashraf, Quicker, short and on off, Faheem Ashraf stabs it back to the bowler.

Mitch Santner to Naseem Shah, Short and on off, Naseem Shah steers it to short third for another run.

Mitch Santner to Naseem Shah, Floated, full and around off, Naseem Shah pushes it to cover-point.

Mitch Santner to Faheem Ashraf, A bit short and on middle, Faheem Ashraf punches it to long off for a run.

Mitch Santner to Naseem Shah, Tossed up, full and on off, Naseem Shah drives it to long off for a single.

Glenn Phillips to Naseem Shah, Quicker, full and on middle, Naseem Shah drills it to long on for one.

Glenn Phillips to Naseem Shah, Flighted, full and on middle, Naseem Shah blocks it out.

Glenn Phillips to Naseem Shah, Darts one way down the leg side, Naseem Shah leaves it alone. Wided.

Glenn Phillips to Faheem Ashraf, Floated, full and on leg, Faheem Ashraf clips it to mid-wicket for a run.

Glenn Phillips to Faheem Ashraf, Flatter, full and on off Faheem Ashraf waits for it and guides it to point.