Lahore (Web Desk): Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 9 runs in the fifth and last T-20I match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, leveling the series 2-2.
Batting first, Pakistan scored 178 runs for the loss of five wickets in allotted 20 overs.
Skipper, Captain Babar Azam completed the 34th half-century of his career by showing responsible batting and played an excellent innings of 69 runs off 44 balls with 2 sixes and 6 fours.
Fakhar Zaman scored 43 runs and Usman Khan scored 31 runs while Shadab Khan played an innings of 15 runs in the closing moments.
Zach Foulkes, William O'Rourke, Ben Sears, Jimmy Neesham and Ash Sodhi took one wicket each for New Zealand.
In reply, New Zealand were all out on 169 runs in 19.2 overs.
Tim Seifert was the top scorer for New Zealand with 52 runs while captain Michael Bracewell scored 23 runs, Jimmy Nesham 16 runs and Mark Chapman scored 12 runs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi sent 4 players to the pavilion while Usama Mir took 2 wickets. Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim dismissed one player each.
Shaheen Afridi was awarded the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards.
The five-match series drew 2-2 with Pakistan winning the second and fifth T20I while New Zealand got victories in the third and fourth matches.
Meanwhile, the first encounter in Rawalpindi was called off due to rain.
