In short
Pakistan defeated the BLACKCAPS by 18 runs in front of a strong crowd at Bay Oval to clinch the GJ Gardner Homes T20l series 2-1.
19-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan was named the ANZ Player of the Match for his spell of 2-19, which put the breaks on the BLACKCAPS pursuit of 182 to win the third and deciding game.
Mitchell Santner was the best of the BLACKCAPS returning 2-22 with the ball from his four overs, before slugging 24 off 12 balls down the order.
There were also handy contributions with the bat by Martin Guptill (59
As it happened...
Pakistan have won the toss in the deciding T20 at Bay Oval and asked the BLACKCAPS to bowl first #nzvpak pic.twitter.com/GGWP8s1BVA
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
BLACKCAPS XI: Guptill, Williamson (c), Kitchen, Bruce, Taylor, De Grandhomme, Blundell, Santner, Southee, Sodhi, Boult #nzvpak pic.twitter.com/W73ArY3Ogs
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Wicket! De Grandhomme stops Pakistan's strong start with the edge of Shehzad. Not given initially, but a successful review by Williamson. Pakistan 31-1 after 4.2 overs #nzvpak pic.twitter.com/rp96yT0drH
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Tom Bruce with a superb low catch in the deep to dismiss the man in form Fakhar Zaman for 46 off 36. Pakistan 122-3 with 5 overs remaining #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/u4BrIm8JtW
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Trent Boult lights up the blitz-bails up as Faheem Ashraf is bowled for 8 off 4. Pakistan on track for a good total in the deciding T20I at Bay Oval, 165-6 after 19 overs. Card | https://t.co/CPcewHJbm7 … #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/qkgM496iN8
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Another testing chase on our hands!
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
BLACKCAPS need 182 to win the 3rd and deciding T20I in front of a big crowd at Bay Oval. Card | https://t.co/CPcewHJbm7 #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/LvV5rWCCQg
Another well-balanced batting effort by Pakistan, lead by Fakhar Zaman, sees them post a competitive 181 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/pFMF4CgR9O
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Guptill and Williamson out in the middle as we pursue 182 to win the 3rd T20I and the series! Scorecard | https://t.co/CPcewHJbm7 #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/JYdvxnli5m
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Williamson out in the final over of the Power Play.
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Anaru Kitchen in at 3 & has found a couple of early boundaries. Guptill's hit a HUGE six to move to 29 & BCs to 47-1 after 6 overs #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/dmNLhlbP4c
Martin Guptill goes past 50 and is shaping as the key man in the run chase. BLACKCAPS require 100 off 50 balls! Live Scorecard | https://t.co/CPcewHJbm7 #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/Nmr6jEAwKm
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Double-breakthrough by Shadab as Kitchen and then Guptill for 59.
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
BLACKCAPS 87-3 after 13 overs, needing another 96 at 14-runs-per-over #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/4xeM6iY6we
Big 15th over as Ross Taylor goes old school & bops a couple of sixes over the leg side fence! Equation still a tough one for he and Bruce at 72 off 30 balls #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/JaFMZrQyfm
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Gutsy stand by Taylor (25 off 11) and Bruce (22 off 15) comes to an end as Pakistan look to close the run-chase down. 48 needed off 14 balls #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/eN8I9EBxdW
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
We need 35 runs off the final over to win 😅#NZvPAK
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
Pakistan has beaten the BLACKCAPS by 18 runs at Bay Oval to clinch the T20l series 2-1. Scorecard | https://t.co/CPcewHJbm7 #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/bFIHP3yXCj
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018
The players shake hands after Pakistan take the T20 series 2-1 #nzvpak pic.twitter.com/1HcwMQNSfQ
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 28, 2018