New Zealand has won the fifth T20 against Pakistan by 6 lattices to tie the series at 2- 2. Mark Chapman played an exceptional unbeaten century, adding 47 runs off 37 balls with Daryl Mitchell and also an unbeaten 121- run stage with James Neesham (45 off 25) to chase down 194 runs with 4 balls to spare. Mohammad Rizwan played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 98 runs to help Pakistan score193/5.

New Zealand began their innings and lost their captain Tom Latham on the first ball. Shaheen Afridi struck again in the first over, dismissing Will Young( 4 off 4). Imad Wasim picked up the gate of Chad Bowes (19, 13b, 4x4s) and Daryl Mitchell( 15 off 18) who added 47 runs for the fourth gate with Mark Chapman, putting the callers on the backfoot at26/3 in the fourth over.

At73/4, Neesham joined Chapman at the crinkle. The brace took on the Pakistan bowlers and scored runs at will. Chapman, who was dropped in the 14th over by Shadab Khan off Shaheen’s bowling, took full advantage and scored his demoiselle T20I century. He returned undefeated on 104 off 57 balls, which included 11 fours and four sixes. The left- handed Neesham scored an unbeaten 45 out 25, hitting four fours and two sixes.

Pakistan began their innings with Babar Azam and Rizwan adding 51 runs for the opening gate. Babar (19 runs, 18 balls, 3x4s) was the first one to depart. Pakistan lost two further lattices in quick race with Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub returning without scoring outside four balls. Iftikhar Ahmed joined Rizwan in the middle and the brace knitted 71 off 46 balls. Iftikhar made a quick- fire 36 off 22 balls.

After the departure of Iftikhar, Imad Wasim joined Rizwan and the brace added 68 off 34 balls. Imad struck five fours and one six during his 14- ball 31 knock. He was run- out in the final over of the innings trying to give a chance to Rizwan to get on- strike to complete his alternate T20I century. Rizwan missed out on the century by two runs as the right- handed batter missed out on an occasion to score on the final ball of the innings. The opening batter innings included seven fours and four sixes and the runs came at the strike- rate of158.06.

Both teams will now contend in a five- match ODI series starting from Thursday, 27 April at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.