Srinagar: Pakistan cricket team have stopped their losing streak by registering first win of the year 2024 and first win after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2024.
Already 4-0 down in the series, Pakistan avoided 5-0 whitewash by registering a 42 ru win in the fifth T20I vs New Zealand on Sunday in Christchurch.
Chasing a target of 135 runs, New Zealand were bundled out for 92 runs in 17.2 overs.
New Zealand were 53-2 at one stage but suffered a major collapse to get bowled out inside 20 overs.
Iftikhar Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with figures of 3-24 in four overs. Skipper Shaheen Afridi and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz bagged two wickets each.
Glenn Phillips was the top-scorer for the home side with 26 runs in 22 balls.
Earlier after winning the toss, Pakistan scored 134-8.
Seamers Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson all claimed two scalps, along with spinner Ish Sodhi, leaving the Black Caps poised to complete a 5-0 series rout. Fakhar Zaman, with 33 off 16 balls was only free flowing batter in the match. Mohammad Rizwan scored 38 off 38. Babar Azam battled to just 13 off 24 balls.
Pakistan had made three changes to the team beaten by seven wickets in game four at the same Hagley Oval on Friday.
Twenty-year-old Khan opened the batting in place of Saim Ayub, while legspinner Usama Mir and seamer Abbas Afridi were recalled after both played in the first two games.
New Zealand made two changes, including the recall of allrounder Rachin Ravindra, who has barely featured since his prolific run-scoring feats at last year’s 50-over World Cup in India.
Ravindra replaced Daryl Mitchell, who is being rested while legspinner Sodhi took the berth of pace bowler Adam Milne.