Cricket

PAK Vs NZ, 5th T20I Report: Babar, Afridi Help Pakistan Beat New Zealand, Series Ends 2-2

Babar Azam played a captain's knock, hitting 69 off 44, while pacer Shaheen Afridi claimed a four-wicket haul to set up a nervy nine-run win in the must-win fifth and final T20 International against visiting New Zealand

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Babar Azam's innings was crucial to Pakistan earning victory in Lahore.
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Babar Azam top scored as he led his Pakistan team to a nine-run victory over New Zealand in Lahore that saw the five-game T20I series end in a draw. (Scorecard | Cricket News)

Babar hit 69 runs off 44 balls before being bowled by Ben Sears, smashing six fours and two sixes to take his team to 123/3 at the time of his dismissal.

Fakhar Zaman (43 from 33) and Usman Khan (31 off 24) also chipped in with important innings as Pakistan ended on 178/5.

With a target of 179 to secure a 3-1 series victory, New Zealand's run chase faltered almost immediately as opener Tom Blundell was removed within the first over with his team having managed just five runs on the board.

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Blundell's fellow opener Tim Seifert steadied the ship with a vital 52-run innings off 33 deliveries before being bowled by Usama Mir, but Shaheen Shah Afridi led the way for Pakistan, finishing with figures of 4-30 to stem the New Zealand run chase

Josh Clarkson's 38 off 26 set up a nervy conclusion, but Pakistan held on to avoid defeat in the T20 series as the teams share the spoils at two wins apiece after the first game was abandoned.

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