NZ vs PAK Scorecard, 3rd T20I Highlights: Finn Allen's Whirlwind Century Powers New Zealand To Series-Clinching Win

New Zealand, on Wednesday (January 17), thrashed Pakistan by 45 runs in the third NZ vs PAK T20I at the University Oval in Dunedin. The hosts piled up a huge total of 224/7 before restricting Pakistan to 179/7.

With the third win in a row in the series, the Black Caps have clinched the series with two matches remaining. New Zealand had won the first game by 46 runs before winning the second one by 21 runs.

NZ vs PAK: Pakistan innings:

Chasing a mammoth total of 225 runs, Pakistan finished their innings on 179 for 7. Babar Azam scored his third fifty in a row in the series but once again found little support from the other end as Pakistan timidly conceded the series.

While the visitors lost the wicket of Saim Ayub early, they recovered quickly and were well-placed at the end of the powerplay. The scoreboard read 52 for 1 at the end of the six overs with Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam well set at the crease. Rizwan, however, did not last long after the powerplay and departed for 24 in the eighth over.

Fakhar Zaman (19) got the start too but failed to capitalise while Azam Khan (10) once again failed to get going as Pakistan found themselves reeling at 115 for 4 after 13 overs. With more than 100 runs remaining in the last seven overs, it looked all over for Pakistan. Iftikhar Ahmed’s (1) dismissal only made things worse for the Men in Green.

Babar completed his fifty in the 15th over before being dismissed by Ish Sodhi in the very next over. The former Pakistan captain departed after scoring 58 off 37 balls. Pakistan eventually finished their innings on 179. For New Zealand, Tim Southee picked up 2 wickets.

NZ vs PAK: New Zealand innings

Earlier in the game, Finn Allen continued his red-hot form and scored a sensational century to guide his side to a huge total of 224/7. With captain Kane Williamson not playing the game, New Zealand needed someone to step up in the third NZ vs PAK T20I and Allen took the onus on himself.

Pakistan had made three changes to their bowling lineup for the must-win clash but it did not make much of a difference as New Zealand piled up their second 220-plus total in the series. Pakistan got the early breakthrough when Haris Rauf dismissed Devon Conway for 7 but failed to capitalize on it.

Allen got going by smashing Shaheen Afridi for two sixes in the third over before Rauf sent back Conway in the fourth. However, the advantage did not last long as Allen smashed Rauf for 28 runs in the sixth over to help his side finish the powerplay on 67 for 1.

Finn Allen goes BIG in Ōtepoti – Dunedin. 107 metres and out of University of Otago Oval for the third time today! Follow play LIVE and free in NZ on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/2NkExv1gGJ

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 17, 2024

Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr did bowl two quiet overs, conceding 4 runs each in the 7th and 8th over respectively before Allen broke the shackles by hitting two sixes off Nawaz in the 9th over. At the end of the tenth over, New Zealand were on 103 for 1.

Successive half-centuries for Finn Allen. His 5th in T20 internationals comes from 26 balls. Follow play LIVE on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/xGUuO2ezg2

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 17, 2024

In the 12th over, Allen targeted Rauf once again and hit him for three sixes to take 23 runs off the over before hitting Afridi for a six and a four in the next over to complete a stunning century. He reached his century in just 48 balls. In the same over, Tim Seifert, who looked more than happy to play the role of the second fiddle, hit a six to bring up the 150 for the Black Caps.

In the 14th over, Wasim Jr dismissed Seifert for 31 to finally end the partnership. Seifert departed after adding 125 runs with Allen for the second wicket. Allen’s innings ended in the 18th over when he was bowled by Zaman Khan. The right-handed batsman scored 137 runs off just 62 balls with the help of 5 fours and 16 sixes.

Brief scores: New Zealand 224/7 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 137; Haris Rauf 2-60) beat Pakistan 179/7 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 58; Tim Southee 2-29) by 45 runs.