• Pakistan defeated New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I to level the series.

  • Shaheen Afridi was named Player of the Match for his tremendous bowling performance.

Twitter reactions: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi lead Pakistan to series-levelling win over New Zealand in 5th T20I
Pakistan beat New Zealand in the 5th T20I to level the series (Image Source: @Therealpcb)

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Pakistan edged out New Zealand by a narrow margin of 9 runs in a tense fifth and final T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, on April 27th, 2024, to level the series 2-2.

Babar Azam shines with the bat

New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Pakistan posted a competitive total of 178 runs on the board, with skipper Babar Azam leading the way with a well-composed 69 runs. The middle order chipped in with valuable contributions, especially from Fakhar Zaman, who scored 43.

Shaheen Afridi outclass New Zealand with brilliant bowling

In reply, New Zealand got off to a flying start with Tim Seifert scoring a brisk half-century (52). However, Pakistan’s bowling attack, featuring eight different bowlers in the match, clawed their way back into the contest. Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers, scalping four wickets for just 30 runs.

Despite a late fightback from Josh Clarkson (38 runs off 26 balls), New Zealand fell short of the target, eventually dismissed for 169 runs. Mohammad Amir held his nerve in the final over, dismissing Ben Sears for a run-out to seal a dramatic victory for Pakistan.

Afridi bags top honours

Afridi’s sensational bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award, while his consistent bowling throughout the series saw him bag the Player of the Series honour as well.

Also WATCH: Trent Boult cleans up Quinton de Kock with a beauty in LSG vs RR clash | IPL 2024

Here is how Twitter reacted:

https://twitter.com/MidWicket71/status/1784260179480969220

Also READ: Waqar Younis selects Pakistan’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024

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AKSHAT GAUR
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.