New Zealand vs Pakistan, Tri-Series Final Highlights: Mohammad Nawaz Stars As Pakistan Defeat New Zealand By 5 Wickets

Babar Azam has been handed over the trophy. He joins his teammates and they celebrate the victory. All smiles in the Pakistan camp and that ends another series here. Both teams will now go to Australia for the next assignment, the T20 World Cup, which is not too far away. Till then, goodbye and take care.

Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan says that he is thrilled with the win. Tells that all credit goes to the boys for the way they played. Adds that they bowled brilliantly at the death and the middle order then did the trick. Tells that Haider Ali and Nawaz batted quite well and mentions that the wicket behaved the same in both the innings and credit goes to the team for the way they played. Mentions that they have good confidence going to the World Cup and would like to take the momentum forward.

Kane Williamson, the skipper of New Zealand, says that it was a great game of cricket, Pakistan are a great side and it was frustrating not to get over the line. Adds that a team always needs 20 more but the total was competitive, but credit to the Pakistan middle-order who changed the game. They played beautifully. Says that it is a game of small margins, and even if one bowler goes for too many, they can always come back in the game. When asked about his knock, he says that it feels good to contribute to the team's total, but they would have liked a few more runs. Ends by saying that it's been a good tournament and now they are looking forward to the World Cup.

Michael Bracewell is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES! He says that he is honoured to get the award but is disappointed to not get the over he line. Tells that he has practised a lot of to bowl in the Powerplay and he is enjoying it at the moment. Tells that it is a different role than the one he plays in domestic cricket and tells that the last couple of overs in both innings cost them the game. Tells that he is privileged to get an opportunity to represent his country and is trying to improve by learning from other spinners and says that he is a better bowler now than he was 8 months ago.

Mohammad Nawaz is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his all-round performance! He says that he just backed himself with the bat in the previous game and in this game as well, he believed in himself and went in with a clear mind. Adds that he has been batting well in the middle order in domestic cricket which is helping him, and out here it was just about executing his plans. Mentions that Haider Ali gave Pakistan momentum and they both decided to take Ish Sodhi on which changed the game.  Ends that the weather here in New Zealand is cold as before this they were playing in the sub-continent which was hot.

Time for the Presentation.

In the first half of the game, New Zealand got to a par total courtesy of a fifty by their skipper Kane Williamson. However, they could not get enough runs in the death overs with Pakistan bowling brilliantly at the death. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah were brilliant at the end and picked two wickets each to keep Pakistan in the game going into the second half. Overall, the performance in the slog-overs both with the bat and ball by Pakistan won them this game.

New Zealand, well, they have only themselves to blame here. They were on the top at one stage both with the bat and ball but were poor in the backend of both the innings and that cost them in the end. With the ball, Michael Bracewell was the shining light again and finished with 2 wickets while going for just 14 in his four overs. Other bowlers were decent but Sodhi was very expensive and he gave away 25 runs in the 15th over after which it became difficult for New Zealand to get back in this game.

Pakistan started off brightly in the first two overs but the introduction of Bracewell brought New Zealand back into the game. He got rid of Babar Azam in his second over and Pakistan failed to get momentum after that with Rizwan and Masood both failing to up the ante. Pakistan were three down with both Rizwan and Masood out in the 12th over and 90 more needed. It was then that the momentum changed when Haider Ali and Nawaz started firing all guns blazing. Haider Ali departed after playing a fantastic cameo of 31 from 15 balls but Nawaz hung in there and got good support from Ahmed in the end to clinch this tri-series final.

Pakistan have nailed another chase and it is Mohammad Nawaz who has done the trick again with another cameo of 37 from 21 balls. Another superb performance from the spin-bowling allrounder and this tri-series win here in New Zealand will give a lot of confidence to Babar Azam and his boys. New Zealand would feel that they let things drift away from them both with the bat and ball, but overall it has been a superb game of cricket!

SIX! KABOOM! Iftikhar Ahmed finishes things off in style! A length ball, around middle and leg. Iftikhar Ahmed whips it over the leaping fielder at deep square leg for a biggie! Pakistan win by 5 wickets and seal the tri-nation series!

Blair Tickner goes 'round the wicket now, he bowls a short ball, around his thigh pad. Mohammad Nawaz pulls it gently towards the fielder at deep square leg for a single.

Tight single! On a length, outside off. Iftikhar Ahmed cuts it towards backward point and scampers across to the other end. Trent Boult there collects the ball and has a shy at the striker's end but he misses. 3 needed off 5 now!

Blair Tickner to bowl the final over! Just 4 needed for Pakistan to win this tri-series final.

A good-length delivery, outside off. Iftikhar Ahmed rocks back and dabs it towards cover. A single. 4 needed off 6 balls now.

Swing and a miss! A precious dot for the Kiwis! Slower ball, outside off. Iftikhar Ahmed fails to connect his cut shot.

This is sensible cricket from Pakistan! On a length again, outside off, slower ball. Iftikhar Ahmed stays in his crease, opens the face of the bat and guides it past point for a brace.

Takes the pace of this one as well, he serves it outside off and on a length, Mohammad Nawaz pushes it towards deep cover for a run.

Full, around middle, a pace-off delivery. Iftikhar Ahmed knocks it towards long on for a single.

A slower ball, full in length, outside off. Iftikhar Ahmed taps it towards the diving fielder at extra cover. Two taken!