Dec. 30: Pakistan humiliated New Zealand in the third and final Twenty20 international in Christchurch Thursday as the Black Caps slumped to their lowest ever total in the ultra-short form of the game. New Zealand collapsed spectacularly chasing Pakistan’s six for 183, with the top four batsmen all out for ducks as the mercurial tourists shrugged off a form slump that cost them the first two games of the three-match series. Scott Styris was the only New Zealander who offered any resistance, scoring 45 off 34 balls as Abdul Razzaq and Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi tore through the batting line up.
None of Styris’ teammates reached double figures, dispelling the optimism that lifted the New Zealand camp after coach John Wright’s appointment before the series. “It’s a very disappointing way to end the series... When your four top batsmen get out for nothing it’s pretty tough chasing a total,” captain Ross Taylor said, who was among those dismissed for zero.
New Zealand’s total of 80 was its lowest in Twenty20 internationals and Pakistan’s 103-run winning margin was the largest ever between two nations. A buoyant Afridi said the victory was a confidence booster for Pakistan. “This is the talent of Pakistan but we should be consistent,” Afridi said.