New Zealand takes a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after beating Pakistan by four runs

New Zealand took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after beating Pakistan by four runs on Thursday in a match played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

The hosts failed to chase a 179-run target in the fourth T20I and will try to level the series in the final match on April 27.

Pakistan struggled from the start of the innings to achieve a total of 178/7 posted by New Zealand after being put into bat first.

Babar Azam scored just 5 runs before being sent to the pavilion in the second over.

Saim Ayub (20) and Usman Khan (16) tried to chase the target aggressively but both were dismissed in quick successions.

Fakhar Zaman was joined by Shadab Khan (7) in the middle but the all-rounder was not lucky to replicate his heroics from the last game.

Fakhar maintained his wicket on one end partnering with Iftikhar Ahmed. The duo added 61 runs when William O’Rourke struck in a key moment as the home side tried hard to chase.

The Black Caps kept piling up the pressure on the home side by removing set-batter Fakhar after scoring 61 runs off 45 balls.

All-rounder Imad Wasim (22*) put his effort to chase the target till the last delivery but Pakistan fell short by four runs and finished at 174/8.

O’Rourke picked three wickets for 27 runs while Ben Sears took two for the same number of runs.

New Zealand while batting first had a blazing start as their openers Tim Robinson and Tom Blundell made 56 runs partnership for the first wicket before Zaman Khan took the wicket of Blundell, who made 28 runs off 15 balls powered by five fours.

Robinson kept the charge from the other end with Dean Foxcroft joining him in the middle. The 21-year-old reached his first T20I fifty before being dismissed on 51 by Abbas Afridi with the help of Iftikhar Ahmed, who took a great catch on the boundary.

The home side built up some pressure after the wickets of last-match heroes Mark Chapman and Foxcroft.

Shadab Khan took a splendid catch to dismiss Chapman (9) on the bowling of Iftikhar Ahmed.

Foxcroft (34) was sent back by Usama Mir.

New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell looked to increase the strike rate in the last overs but couldn’t go against Pakistan bowlers.

Bracewell, who made 27 off 20, was removed by Abbas while Josh Clarkson’s stumps were rattled on the following delivery. The emerging pacer finished as Pakistan’s best bowler, claiming 3/20.

New Zealand finished on 178 at the loss of 7 wickets with Mohammad Amir removing Ish Sodhi on the final ball of the innings.