New Zealand vs Pakistan: Fifth T20 cricket match – as it happened

That’s it for another live page and what a game to finish Pakistan’s T20 tour of New Zealand.

The hosts had already emphatically claimed the series by the tourists needed that boost in a World Cup year.

It was quite the boost as well with the manner of victory in defending such a low total.

There’s more live coverage to come on Sunday from Al Jazeera as Morocco take on DR Congo at the CAF African Cup of Nations 2023.

Do join us for that one if you can. We’ll have all the games that count from Afcon and the Asian Cup as those tournaments head to the end of their group stages.

From myself Kevin Hand though, it’s goodbye to you from the coverage of the series finale in Christchurch.

“We were planning on giving a chance to youngsters, we want to build a team,” Shaheen told TVNZ.

“Also we’ve played five games and the crowd was fantastic so thank you to everyone.”

“The pitch slowed down a lot and we were pretty happy with the score,” the New Zealand captain told TVNZ.

“We just got outplayed in the second innings.

“The power play was very important on a slow wicket.

“We talk about trying to take it deep but it’s good learning.”

“I’ve been trying to be a bit more consistent and assess the conditions quicker,” Allen told TVNZ.

The 3-24 return wins Iftikhar the award for Player of the Match.

That was a complete bowling performance from Pakistan and at the fifth time of asking, they have their win.

A good toss for Shaheen to call correctly and an even better decision to play the extra spinners.

That ends a losing streak across all formats to ease Pakistan’s woes.

Shaheen yorks Ferguson first ball and that’s the game.

Phillips holes out off Shaheen’s first ball of the 18th and the game is nearly up.

Phillips cuts hard for four off Iftikhar, then just gets enough of a pull to clear midwicket for six.

A flat attempt at another midwicket six is put down by Farhan sliding on his knees.

Southee survives a review for LBW at the end of the Shaheen over.

It was a yorker and hit the back foot of the right-hander as the but was the umpire’s call for pitching only marginally in line with leg stump.

Sodhi sweeps Iftikhard to Fakhar, who takes a fine catch on the run at deep square.

Pakistan are close to taking a win out of this series in the final game.

Henry is the new batter and he departs as quickly as he arrived.

A back-foot punch is sent straight back to Iftikhar for two caught-and-bowled dismissals in quick succession.

Santner is caught and bowled by Mir for four.

The Kiwi captain actually hit the ball twice as he scooped a drive back to the spinner.

13.4 overs bowled.

Seifert attempts the reverse sweep off Iftikhar and is trapped LBW for 19.

The match is swinging the way of Pakistan.

One ball to be bowled of the 13th as Santner comes to the middle and plays out a dot ball.

Phillips saw the Kiwis home with Mitchell from the lose of three early wickets in game four.

He’s got his work cut our to do it again in the final match.

Just three off the third Mir over. He’s conceded 15 in total.

Four singles follow and this chase is going to be tight. We could be in for a low-scoring classic to end the series.

Game on in Christchurch.

Chapman opens the face to a backward point but hesitates and is run out by Zaman with the through to the non-striker’s end.

10.1 overs bowled.

Nawaz is bowled out with figures of 2-18.

Young sends Nawaz straight down the throat of Iftikhar at deep midwicket with a sweep to fall for 12.

The leg spinner is being bowled out by his captain inside the first 10 overs.

Young rocks back and late cuts for four. Three singles otherwise off Mir.