Opening batter Tim Robinson and fast bowler Will O'Rourke have helped inexperienced New Zealand pull off a four-run win over Pakistan in the fourth Twenty20, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Robinson (51) hit his maiden T20 half-century in New Zealand's par-total of 7-178 after Pakistan aimed to test their bench strength and rested two frontline fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
O'Rourke, playing in only his second T20, struck twice in the powerplay for the key wickets of Babar Azam (five) and Saim Ayub (22) before dismissing Iftikhar Ahmed (23) in his return spell to restrict Pakistan at 8-174.
O'Rourke finished with economical figures of 3-27 as Pakistan felt the absence of injured Mohammad Rizwan up in the batting order.
"The way we have learned from game to game is hugely important. Fortunately, we are able to come on the right side today," New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell said.
"It's a huge positive for us that we are able to expose new guys. We backed (Jimmy) Neesham to bowl those hard overs and he was able to close out today."
Fakhar Zaman, one of the five changes Pakistan made from the side which lost the third game by seven wickets, top-scored with 61 off 45 balls, but couldn't take Pakistan home when he holed out in the deep in the 18th over.
Imad Wasim, playing his first game after coming out of retirement for the T20 World Cup, remained unbeaten on 22 off 11 balls as he could strike only five runs off Neesham's final two balls with Pakistan needing 10 for victory.
Pakistan suffered an injury setback ahead of the game when Rizwan and Irfan Khan were ruled out of the remainder of the series due to hamstring injury they sustained during the third game.
New Zealand fluffed two catching opportunities in an eventful powerplay when Neesham couldn't hold onto Ayub's miscued pull at square leg and Mark Chapman dropped a regulation catch of Usman Khan (16) at extra cover.
Zaman and Ahmed gave Pakistan chase a momentum with a 59-run stand before both perished while looking for big shots with Bracewell manoeuvring his bowlers intelligently in the death overs.
Earlier, after being put in to bat, Tom Blundell, playing his first game of the series after Tim Seifert was ruled out due to sore back, struck a whirlwind 28 off 15 balls and Robinson showed his mettle by striking four boundaries and two sixes.
Robinson departed soon after raising his half-century off 34 balls when he got caught on the edge of mid-on boundary.
New Zealand are touring Pakistan without their nine front-line T20 players, who are busy playing in the Indian Premier League. The final game of the series will be played in Lahore on Saturday.
Australian Associated Press
