PAK vs NZ: Three reasons why Pakistan lost third T20I against second-string New Zealand in Rawalpindi

PAK vs NZ: New Zealand defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the third T20I in Rawalpindi to level the 5-match series 1-1 on Sunday, April. A spirited show by the visitors saw them chase down 179 with 10 balls to spare.

The defeat is bound to hurt Pakistan, who won the second T20I comfortably by seven wickets and 47 balls remaining on Saturday New Zealand were bundled out for 90 in 18.1 overs. The first T20I ended without a result due to rain.

Succumbing to a one-sided defeat in a span of just 24 hours is not what Pakistan would have expected. They will now need to win both the remaining T20Is to win the 5-match series.

PAK vs NZ: Three reasons why Pakistan lost third T20I

Overconfidence: 460 runs were scored in the last PSL 2024 match held in Rawalpindi. Pakistan batters could manage to score only 178 despite losing just four wickets. Only one of the top four batters scored with a strike rate in excess of 130.

Were Pakistan overconfident? Did they underestimate this second-string New Zealand unit under Michael Bracewell? The fact that New Zealand were bundled out for 90 in the last match, and that could possibly have motivated Pakistan to take the Kiwis lightly.

Below-par show from the batting unit: Pakistan crossed the 50-run mark on the first ball of the sixth over, however failed to post a big total. Opener Saim Ayub scored with a strike rate of 145.45 but the likes of Babar Azam (SR:127.59), Mohammad Rizwan (SR: 104.76) and Usman Khan (SR:71:43) failed to score briskly.

Despite the slow scoring, Iftikhar Ahmed did not get the opportunity to bat at all. Shadab Khan, who scored 41 off 20, was sent at sixth spot after rookies Usman Khan and Irfan Khan.

New Zealand batting and Mark Chapman: New Zealand made a quick turnaround after being hammered on Saturday. They attacked from the starting and created panic in the Pakistan camp. The likes of Naseem Shah (1/44 in 3 overs) and Shaheen Afridi (0/37 in 3.2 overs) were hammered.

The cherry on the top was Mark Chapman's batting. He scored unbeaten 87 runs off just 42 balls at a strike rate of 207.14. Despite the absence of star batters busy in the IPL 2024, New Zealand came up with a plan and executed it successfully.