3rd T20I: Ton-up Nawaz powers Pakistan to victory over NZ
What's the story
In a remarkable display of talent, 22-year-old Pakistani opener Hasan Nawaz smoked a brilliant hundred in the third T20I match against New Zealand in Auckland.
His terrific knock meant Pakistan accomplished the 205-run target in just 16 overs.
Despite bagging ducks in the first two games, Nawaz made a significant comeback by scoring an impressive hundred.
Notably, Mark Chapman's 94 had earlier powered the Kiwis.
Here are the key stats.
Run chase
Nawaz, Agha powers Pakistan over the line
In response, Pakistan were off to a flying start as openers Nawaz and Mohammad added 74 runs in no time.
While Haris made 41 off 20 balls, Nawaz's explosive innings saw him reach his half-century in just 26 balls.
In skipper Salman Agha (50), Nawaz found another potent partner as their century stand helped Pakistan win by nine wickets.
The series is now 2-1 in NZ's favor with two matches to go.
1st innings
Chapman's 94 helped NZ post massive total
Shaheen Afridi dismissed Finn Allen for a duck in the opening over and Chapman arrived subsequently.
He went after the bowlers from the outset, leaving the Pakistani bowlers in tatters.
Chapman dominated a 55-run stand with Daryl Mitchell (17) and completed his half-century during the route.
Michael Bracewell played a vital 31-run knock toward the end as the Kiwis finished at 204/10 in 19.5 overs.
Stats
Chapman's numbers versus Pakistan
Chapman's 94 came from 44 balls as he smoked 11 fours and four maximums.
He missed out on becoming the first batter to score two T20I centuries against Pakistan, having scored 104* in the 2023 Rawalpindi match.
As per ESPNcricinfo, versus Pakistan, Chapman has raced to 636 runs at 45.42.
Playing his 84th match, Chapman surpassed 1,700 T20I runs (1,712) at 28.06. He owns a strike rate of 134.16.
Rauf
Three-fer for Rauf
Rauf, who claimed 3/29 from his four overs, consolidated his position as the highest wicket-taker vs NZ in T20Is.
The former has now raced to 37 wickets in 18 games against them at an economy rate of 8.28.
Shaheen Afridi trails him with 35 wickets against the Kiwis. Three of Rauf's four four-fers in T20Is have been recorded against the Kiwis.
He has now raced to 115 wickets in 81 T20Is (ER: 8.22).
Nawaz
Hundred for Nawaz
Nawaz smoked 10 fours and seven maximums en route to his unbeaten 45-ball 105.
He became the first Pakistani batsman to score a T20I century in New Zealand.
Notably, he bagged ducks in his first two T20Is. Meanwhile, Babar Azam is the only other Pakistan with a T20I hundred against the Kiwis.
This was also Nawaz's maiden T20 hundred. The tally includes two fifties as well.
DYK
Fastest T20I century for Pakistan
Nawaz also broke the record for the fastest T20I century by a Pakistani batter. The youngster scored his hundred in just 44 balls, breaking Babar's previous record of 49 balls against South Africa in Centurion on April 14, 2021.
Agha
Fifty for Agha
Skipper Salman Agha added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 51 off 31 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes).
This was his maiden fifty in T20Is as he has now raced to 165 runs across eight innings at 23.57.
115 of his runs have come against NZ at 57.50.
This was overall his fifth half-century in the 20-over format.