Pakistan defeats New Zealand by 42 runs in the fifth T20 match

Pakistan's spinners dominated New Zealand in the fifth and final Twenty20 international, winning by 42 runs and avoiding a series whitewash. The tourists lost the five-match series 4-1, but finished on a high note by dismissing the Black Caps for 92 in a 134-8 defense. Iftikhar Ahmed, a part-time offspinner, bowled a career-best 3-24 as a weaker New Zealand batting order battled against the turning ball and finished with the eighth-lowest T20 score.

Only opener Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips scored over 20 as Pakistan took the final eight wickets for 39 runs, easily their greatest bowling performance of the series. Mohammad Nawaz, 2-18, was efficient with the new ball, dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Will Young cheaply, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, 2-20, had reason to celebrate at the completion of his first series as captain.