Nawaz slams century as clinical Pakistan outclass New Zealand by 9 wickets

Nawaz’s knock trumps Chapman’s as Pakistan complete fastest 200-plus run chase in T20Is

Photo: PCB

Hasan Nawaz has hit the fastest-ever T20 century for Pakistan to steer his team to a resounding 9-wicket win over New Zealand, chasing down a daunting target in Auckland.

The Pakistan batters took the Black Caps bowlers to the cleaners as the comeback win brought Pakistan to 1-2 in the series after losing the first two games.

Asked to bat first, New Zealand were all out for an imposing 204, riding Mark Chapman’s vibrant 44-ball 94 at Eden Park on Friday.

The 22-year-old Nawaz (105 off 45 balls) registered his century off 44 balls, toppling Babar Azam’s 49-ball ton against South Africa in 2021, as the visitors comfortably coasted to a win with four overs to spare.

In reply, openers Mohammad Haris (41 off 20 balls) and Nawaz were off the blocks in a flash, reaching 50 in only 4 overs.

Haris then ballooned up a bouncer from Jacob Duffy (1-37) for a catch. It was the only Pakistani wicket to fall. Nawaz then paired with Salman Agha (51 off 31) in an unbroken 133-run stand, off only 61 deliveries.

Capably supported by his captain Agha, Nawaz blasted 10 boundaries and 7 sixes on his way as Pakistan also recorded the quickest 200-plus run chase in T20Is.

Earlier, New Zealand would have felt confident with the total as Chapman began forging from the start, after Finn Allen fell to Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-36) in the first over for a duck.

Haris Rauf made an immediate impact by taking out aggressive-looking Tim Seifert (19) and Michael Bracewell (31), before completing his 3-wicket haul by picking out Ish Sodhi (10) later.

Chapman, however, looked in ominous touch as he hammered 11 boundaries and 4 sixes before departing to an Afridi slower.

For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed (2-43) and Abbas Afridi (2-24) grabbed braces to impede New Zealand’s scoring.