Pakistan was bowled out for 140 in the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand in Wellington. They were 52/5 in the 11th over and could only get as far as 130.
This was after Jimmy Neesham took his maiden T20I fifer. He kept up the pressure created by the pacers and Ish Sodhi in the first 10 overs. It was the pressure created by the pacers along with Sodhi that allowed Neesham to get his fifer. Neesham ended with figures of 5/22 in the match.
The Men In Green lost five wickets in the first 10 overs. Then there was a 52-run stand between Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha (51 off 39) and all-rounder Shadab Khan (28 off 20).
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Jimmy Neesham's Maiden Fifer Derails Pakistan's Innings
Everything changed for the visitors once that partnership was broken. Neesham came to bowl the 17th over and broke the partnership. Shadab Khan was dismissed in the first delivery of the 17th over. Neesham bowled the delivery outside the pitch, and Shadab demanded his skipper to go for the review, but Agha decided against it. That might have played in Shadab's mind as he tried to go for a big shot the next ball and was dismissed.
Neesham dismissed Shadab Khan (28 off 20) and Jahandad Khan (1 off 2) in the 17th over. He then came back to dismiss Salman Agha in the 19th over and took the final wicket of Sufiyan Muqeem (0 off 2) in the final over.
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If the first over was about the Kiwi pacers and spinner Ish Sodhi, the second half of the Pakistan innings was about how Jimmy Neesham derailed their innings by taking his maiden T20I fifer.
The Kiwis now need to score a paltry 126 to win the match and win the series 4-1. Pakistan needs a big effort from their bowlers to defend the target. The final T20I brings a closure to the series as well.
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