4th T20I Preview: Pakistan aim to level series vs NZ
What's the story
The fourth T20I of the five-match series between New Zealand and Pakistan will be played at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on March 23.
After a brilliant comeback from Pakistan in the third match, the series now stands at 2-1 in NZ's favor.
Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Haris were instrumental in Pakistan's comeback, with Nawaz scoring his maiden T20I century.
Here is the preview of the fourth match.
Details
Match details and broadcast information
The fourth T20I between New Zealand and Pakistan will be played on March 23, 2025, at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
The pitch here usually assists both batters and bowlers. Teams batting first have won 13 of the 19 T20Is here.
Fans can catch all the action live on Sony Sports Network or stream it online via Sony LIV and Fancode apps/websites.
The match will start at 11:45am IST.
Team news
New Zealand's batting lineup to be tested
New Zealand's batting lineup will be tested in the next match.
The team has depended on a few players for runs, and they will need an all-round performance from their batters.
Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell were the only significant contributors in the last match, with Chapman scoring an impressive 94 runs.
Meanwhile, Haris, Nawaz, and skipper Salman Ali Agha starred for Pakistan in the preceding match.
H2H
A look at the head-to-head record
As per ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan still have an edge over NZ in T20Is as they own 24 victories and 21 defeats (NR: 2).
However, on New Zealand soil, the Kiwis have 14 wins and nine defeats against the team.
Pakistan's preceding T20I assignment in the nation was a five-match series last year.
The Men in Green lost the first four games before avoiding a whitewash.
XIs
Here are the Probable XIs
New Zealand (Probable XI): Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Ben Sears, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
Pakistan (Probable XI): Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (c), Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Abdul Samad, Shaheen Afridi, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf.
Stats
Here are the key performers
The series opener saw Kyle Jamieson finish with career-best figures worth 3/8 across four overs.
Two of Jacob Duffy's three T20I four-fers have come against Pakistan.
Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi are the top two wicket-takers vs NZ in T20Is, having claimed 37 and 35 scalps, respectively.
Nawaz scored the fastest century by a Pakistani in T20I cricket, hitting his maiden hundred off just 44 balls.