(Cricket news) An exceptional innings from Finn Allen allowed New Zealand a victory over Pakistan in the 3rd T20I, to gain an unassailable 3-0 lead in the 5-match T20 series. Allen smashed 137 off just 62 balls which included 16 maximums – the joint highest in the format and 5 fours at a strike rate of more than 220.

Being put into bat the Kiwis lost a quick wicket as Conway was dismissed by Haris Rauf in the 4th over of the innings, but then it was the Finn Allen’s carnage that took on the Pakistani attack alongside Tim Seifert. Allen took on Haris Rauf for three sixes and a couple of fours in a single over to guide NZ to 67 after six overs. 

While Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr temporarily tried to pull things back for the visitors with a couple of tight overs, Allen didn’t take long to break free again. He smoked Nawaz over his head for a six that travelled 107 meters and again heaved it over deep mid wicket for another six off the very same over.

At the halfway stage, New Zealand had 103 on the board and looked well on course to breaching 200. Allen then took on bowlers with his destructive power hitting and took New Zealand well past 200. New Zealand ended their innings on 224/7 with Haris Rauf conceding 60 of 4 overs, while the other bowlers conceding runs at an economy of above 9. Wasim Jr was the only Pakistani bowler who finished at an economy of less than 9 , being conceded 35 runs off his quota of 4 overs.

Pakistan did not look comfortable in the chase as they kept on loosing wickets at regular intervals. While Babar brought up another fifty, it was not good enough to challenge New Zealand’s supremacy. He kept losing partners at the other end as well before becoming the sixth victim of the evening. The lower order hit some big blows but only managed to take Pakistan to 179 in their 20 overs, as New Zealand managed to win the game by 45 runs in a comfortable manner.

Brief scores: New Zealand 224/7 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 137, Tim Seifert 31; Haris Rauf 2/60) Pakistan 179/7 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 58; Tim Southee 2/29)

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