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)
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
Babar Azam's innings was crucial to Pakistan earning victory in Lahore.
Babar Azam's innings was crucial to Pakistan earning victory in Lahore.
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.
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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