Pakistan endured its worst-ever T20I defeat, losing by 115 runs to New Zealand in the fourth match at Bay Oval
Pakistan’s hopes of a series comeback were shattered as New Zealand’s bowlers exploited the conditions under lights, handing them a crushing defeat in the fourth T20I at Bay Oval on Sunday.
Captain Salman Ali Agha admitted that the hosts completely outplayed Pakistan, securing a 3-1 series victory after bundling them out for just 115 in pursuit of a daunting 221-run target.
“They [New Zealand] bowled really well and they outplayed us,” Agha acknowledged in the post-match press conference.
“The ball was doing a lot—it was swinging and turning. But as international cricketers, we need to adapt and perform better,” he added.
With the series already lost, Agha stressed the importance of regrouping and finishing strong. “We need to come together and win the last game.”
Pakistan will now aim to restore some pride in the fifth and final T20I, hoping to end on a high note.
The visitors suffered an early collapse, with Mohammad Haris falling for just two runs in the first over to Will O’Rourke.
Things worsened in the next over when Jacob Duffy struck twice, removing Hasan Nawaz and captain Salman Ali Agha cheaply, leaving Pakistan reeling at 9-3.
Shadab Khan’s departure for a single, courtesy of Zakary Foulkes, deepened the crisis at 26-4 in 4.1 overs.
Irfan Khan Niazi provided brief resistance with a quick 24 off 16 balls, but Duffy’s brilliance saw him dismissed at 42-5.
Khushdil Shah and Abbas Afridi couldn’t stabilize the innings, and Shaheen Afridi’s exit at 56-8 signaled Pakistan’s inevitable defeat. Duffy claimed his fourth wicket, removing Haris Rauf at 80-9 in 13.5 overs.
Abdul Samad fought hard but fell short of a fifty as Pakistan’s innings ended in disappointment.
New Zealand’s openers came out firing, racing to 59 in just 4.1 overs. Shaheen Afridi struggled with the new ball, but Haris Rauf provided a breakthrough by dismissing Tim Seifert for 44.
Finn Allen’s blistering half-century off just 19 balls kept the momentum going before Abbas Afridi removed him for 50.
Despite a minor middle-order stumble, a counter-attacking 68-run partnership between Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner pushed New Zealand past the 200-run mark.
Haris Rauf finished with three wickets, while Abrar Ahmed and Abbas Afridi chipped in with crucial breakthroughs. However, New Zealand’s imposing total proved insurmountable, sealing Pakistan’s heavy defeat.
Pakistan Suffers Record T20I Defeat Against New Zealand
Pakistan endured its worst-ever T20I defeat, losing by 115 runs to New Zealand in the fourth match at Bay Oval. Chasing 221, the team collapsed for just 105 in 16.2 overs, with only Abdul Samad (44) and Irfan Khan (26) reaching double figures. This loss surpassed their previous 95-run defeat in 2016. Meanwhile, it was New Zealand’s second-largest T20I win, just behind their 118-run victory over the West Indies in 2018. The Kiwis now lead the five-match series 3-1.