Babar Azam's Historic Record Broken By 22-Year-Old vs New Zealand, Becomes 1st From Pakistan To...

A fiery century by Hasan Nawaz and top-class performances from pacers helped Pakistan keep the series alive, beating New Zealand by nine wickets in the third T20I at Auckland on Friday. Replying to New Zealand's 204 runs, Pakistan achieved the target in 16 overs. With this win, the five-match series stands at 2-1, with two matches left. Nawaz hit his first T20I ton in 44 balls, fastest by a Pakistan player, overtaking Babar Azam's 49-ball ton against South Africa in 2021. Nawaz is now the first-ever Pakistan player to score a T20I in less than 45 balls. Hassan Nawaz is 22 and is playing his debut T20I series. 

CENTURY IN HIS THIRD T20I

Hasan Nawaz smacks the FASTEST T20I hundred by a Pakistan batter, off 44 balls #NZvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/UTduvlnxM4

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. Kiwis lost their openers Tim Seifert (19 in nine balls, with a four and two sixes) and Finn Allen (0) early to the pair of Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi and were reduced to 43/2 in 4.1 overs.

Then, a 55-run stand between Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell (17 in 11 balls, with a four and six) helped the Kiwis stabilise their innings with Chapman collecting boundaries and sixes against pace and spin alike, reaching his half-century in 29 balls, with seven fours and a six. Shadab Khan broke the partnership, removing Mitchell with a fine catch by Haris Rauf. New Zealand was 98/3 in 9.1 overs.

New Zealand brought up their 100 runs in 9.4 overs.

Chapman looted more runs against Abbas Afridi and Salman Agha, hitting them for a four and six each. However, Abbas removed the dangerman James Neesham for just three. New Zealand were 135/4 in 11.5 overs.

A leading edge towards the backward point landed in the hands of