Pakistan lose straight four matches against New Zealand

Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell rescued New Zealand after a horror start Friday and guided it to a three wicket win over Pakistan in the fourth Twenty20 international.

New Zealand lost two wickets in the first over of its innings, including Finn Allen who made a New Zealand record 137 in the third match of the series on Wednesday. It was 20-3 in the third over when Mitchell and Phillips came together.

Phillips made 70 and Mitchell 72 in an unbroken partnership of 139 from 93 balls for the fourth wicket which steered New Zealand to a win with 11 balls remaining.

Pakistan paid for their inability to support opening batter Mohammad Rizwan, who crafted an unbeaten 90 off 63 balls to dominate his side’s innings.

Rizwan found ways to keep the score ticking over against a disciplined New Zealand attack, led by seamers Matt Henry (2-22) and Lockie Ferguson (2-27).

The 31-year-old at times threatened to reach his second T20 international century in an innings that featured a relatively low percentage of boundaries: six fours and two sixes.

Allrounder Mohammad Nawaz was the only other player to surpass 20 runs, whacking pace bowler Adam Milne for three successive sixes in his final over to post 21 off nine balls.

Babar Azam, who scored half-centuries in each of the first three games, fell for 19 when he skied an attempted pull off Milne in the seventh over.

New Zealand can wrap up the series 5-0 in Sunday’s final match at the same Hagley Oval venue.