Hong Kong-born Mark Chapman played a scintillating knock and scored one of the most impressive centuries in T20I cricket as New Zealand registered an improbable win against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on April 24 (Monday). As a result, the Black Caps tied the series at 2-2 and stopped the Men in Green from winning the trophy on home turf. Chapman emerged as the unlikely hero for the Kiwis as the left-handed batter smashed 104 not out in 57 balls to stun Pakistan.
Chasing a daunting target of 194 runs, New Zealand sustained a horrendous start as the top order failed to make any impact with the bat. Captain Tom Latham was dismissed by Shaheen Afridi on the first ball of the innings while Chad Bowes (19 runs off 13 balls), Will Young (four runs off as many deliveries) and Daryl Mitchell (15 runs off 18 balls) departed without making any significant contribution.
Tottering at 73/4 after 9.5 overs, it looked all doom and gloom for New Zealand. The match completely turned on its head when Chapman and James Neesham joined forces for the fifth wicket. The duo combined for an unbeaten 121-run alliance and willed the Blacks to a thrilling victory. In his 104-run knock, Chapman smashed 11 fours and four sixes. Neesham remained unbeaten on 45 runs off 25 balls which he scored with the help of four fours and two sixes. The Blacks Caps completed the run chase with four balls to spare.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi bagged two wickets but conceded 48 runs while Haris Rauf leaked 39 runs in four overs and went wicketless. Imad Wasim (2/21) was the pick of all Pakistan bowlers.
Earlier, New Zealand won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat first. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan scored 98 not out in 62 balls with the help of seven fours and four sixes. Iftikhar Ahmed (36 runs off 22 balls) and Imad Wasim (31 runs off 15 balls) played handy cameos and pushed the Men in Green's total to 193/5 in 20 overs.
For New Zealand, Blair Tickner finished with figures of 3/33 in four overs while Ish Sodhi (1/21) chipped in with a wicket each.
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