Pakistan
spinners orchestrated a consolation 42-run victory over
New Zealand
in the fifth and final Twenty20 international on Sunday, preventing a series clean sweep.
Despite losing the series 4-1, the tourists finished on a positive note by defending their total of 134 for 8, as the Black Caps crumbled for a meager 92.
In an impressive bowling performance, part-time offspinner
Iftikhar Ahmed
delivered a career-best performance, claiming figures of 3 for 24.
The New Zealand batting lineup, weakened by the absence of key players like Kane Williamson, Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell, struggled against the turning ball.
Only Finn Allen (22) and Glenn Phillips (26) managed to go past 20 runs, and Pakistan seized the last eight wickets for just 39 runs, showcasing their best bowling display of the series.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz (2 for 18) made early breakthroughs by dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Will Young, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, concluding his maiden series as captain, contributed with figures of 2 for 20.
Earlier in the match, New Zealand seemed poised for a clean sweep as their disciplined bowling, led by seamers Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, along with spinner Ish Sodhi, restricted Pakistan batters.
Southee, the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket, took crucial wickets in the opening over and later dismissed the dangerous Fakhar Zaman in the 13th over.
Despite a promising start from debutant Haseebullah Khan and a quickfire 33 off 16 balls by Zaman, Pakistan's top-scorer Mohammad Rizwan (38 off 38) could only take his team to the lowest first-innings total in the series by either team.
English (US) ·