\u2018We were outplayed\u2019
\nPakistan skipper credits Kiwi bowlers for impressive performance, admitting his team struggled to adapt
\n Mount Maunganui
\nPakistan captain Salman Ali Agha acknowledged that New Zealand\u2019s bowlers capitalised on favourable conditions under lights, leading to a crushing defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Bay Oval on Sunday.
\nWith this loss, Pakistan conceded the five-match T20I series 3-1 after being bowled out for 115 while chasing a formidable 221-run target.
\n\u201cThey [New Zealand] bowled really well and they outplayed us,\u201d the skipper said while addressing a post-match press conference.
\n\u201cI mean, the ball talked. It was swinging and it was turning as well. But we are international cricketers, so we have to adapt that and we have to be better,\u201d he added.
\nWith the series already lost, Agha emphasised the need for his team to regroup and put in a strong performance in the final match. \u201cWe need to regroup and we need to win the last game.\u201d
\nPakistan will now look to salvage pride in the fifth and final T20I, hoping to end the series on a positive note.
\nGreen Shirts suffered an early collapse as opener Mohammad Haris was dismissed for just two runs in the first over by Will O\u2019Rourke.
\nThe situation worsened in the next over when Jacob Duffy struck twice, removing Hasan Nawaz and captain Salman Ali Agha for single-digit scores, leaving Pakistan struggling at 9-3.
\nThe downfall continued with Shadab Khan departing for just one run, dismissed by Zakary Foulkes, reducing Pakistan to 26-4 in 4.1 overs.
\nIrfan Khan Niazi showed some resistance with a quick 24 off 16 balls, but Duffy\u2019s brilliance saw him dismissed at 42-5.
\nKhushdil Shah and Abbas Afridi failed to provide stability, while Shaheen Afridi\u2019s departure at 56-8 signaled Pakistan\u2019s impending defeat. Duffy claimed his fourth wicket, dismissing Haris Rauf at 80-9 in 13.5 overs.
\nAbdul Samad fought hard but fell short of his fifty as Pakistan\u2019s innings ended in disappointment.
\nNew Zealand\u2019s openers got off to a flying start, 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.
\nFinn Allen\u2019s explosive fifty off just 19 balls maintained the momentum before he was removed by Abbas Afridi for 50.
\nDespite a minor middle-order stumble, a counter-attacking 68-run stand between Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner powered New Zealand past the 200-run mark.
\nHaris Rauf finished with three wickets, while Abrar Ahmed and Abbas Afridi contributed with crucial breakthroughs. However, New Zealand posted a daunting total, leaving Pakistan with a tough chase that ultimately ended in a comprehensive defeat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018We were outplayed\u2019 Pakistan skipper credits Kiwi bowlers for impressive performance, admitting his team struggled to adapt Mount Maunganui Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha acknowledged that New Zealand\u2019s bowlers capitalised on favourable conditions under lights, leading to a crushing defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Bay Oval on Sunday. With this loss, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-468781","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n