In a breathtaking display of power hitting and aggressive cricket, Pakistan completed the fastest-ever chase of a 200-plus target in T20I history, needing just 16 overs to chase down 205 against New Zealand in the third T20I at Eden Park in Auckland. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous record of 17.4 overs set by South Africa during their chase of 206 against West Indies in the opening match of the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Key Stats and Milestones:
- Fastest 200-Plus Chase in T20Is: Pakistan’s chase of 205 in just 16 overs became the fastest completed chase of a 200-plus target in T20I history.
- Second-Highest Successful Chase for Pakistan: With this victory, Pakistan secured their second-highest successful chase in T20Is. Their highest remains 208, which they chased against the West Indies in 2021 in Karachi.
- New Zealand’s Struggles Defending High Targets: This match marked the fourth time New Zealand has failed to defend a total of 200 or more in T20Is, with three of those instances happening at Eden Park.
Hasan Nawaz’s Record-Breaking Knock:
Part of an Elite Group: Nawaz became just the fourth player in men’s T20I cricket history to follow up consecutive ducks with a century. He joined Rilee Rossouw, Rohit Sharma, and Sanju Samson in achieving this rare feat. Nawaz, however, stands out as the only player to start his career with two ducks and then score a century in his third match.
Fastest T20I Hundred for Pakistan: Hasan Nawaz, who had previously been dismissed for ducks in the first two matches of the series, smashed a brilliant 105* off 45 balls. His century came off just 44 balls, setting a new record for the fastest T20I hundred by a Pakistani batter. The previous record was held by Babar Azam, who scored a century in 49 balls against South Africa in 2021.
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Explosive Batting and Power Play Excellence:
- Most Sixes by a Pakistani Batter: Nawaz also hit 7 sixes in his innings, matching the record for the most sixes by a Pakistani batter in T20Is, alongside Mohammad Rizwan, who hit seven sixes against South Africa in 2021.
- High-Powered Pakistan: Pakistan’s innings saw them hit a total of 12 sixes, their joint-second-most in a T20I, behind their 15 sixes against Ireland in 2024.
- Record-Breaking Powerplay: Pakistan’s powerplay score of 75/1 was their highest ever in T20Is, surpassing their previous best of 73/1 against England in 2016. At the 10-over mark, Pakistan was cruising at 124/1, 15 runs more than their previous best at that stage.
Speeding Through Milestones:
Pakistan reached their 100 in just 8.1 overs, their 150 in 12.2 overs, and their 200 in 15.5 overs — all the fastest ever for them in T20Is. They also equaled their fastest-ever team fifty, reaching it in just four overs. Their previous quickest team hundred came in nine overs against New Zealand last year, and their fastest-ever 150 was completed in 13.5 overs against South Africa in 2013.
Record Chases:
This is now the third instance of a team successfully chasing down a target of 200 or more with nine or more wickets in hand — and all three have been achieved by Pakistan. In 2021, they chased 204 against South Africa with just one wicket lost, and in 2022, they secured a stunning ten-wicket win against England while chasing 200.
Mastering Eden Park’s Boundaries:
- Utilizing the Short Boundaries: Pakistan made the most of Eden Park’s short boundaries behind the wicket, amassing a staggering 84 runs between deep third and fine leg. This was the most runs ever scored in that region in a T20I, surpassing the previous record of 70 runs by Australia during their chase of 244 against New Zealand at the same venue in 2018.
With this performance, Pakistan not only set several new records but also delivered a statement of intent, keeping the series alive with a dominant and record-breaking win.
