Hasan Nawaz smacks record-breaking maiden ton as Pakistan thrash New Zealand in 3rd T20

Published March 21, 2025
Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz (L) celebrates scoring a century with teammate Salman Agha during the third T20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21. — AFP
Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz (L) celebrates scoring a century with teammate Salman Agha during the third T20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21. — AFP
Mark Chapman bats during the third T20I cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21, 2025. — AFP
Mark Chapman bats during the third T20I cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21, 2025. — AFP
Abbas Afridi fields off his own bowling during the third T20I cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21, 2025. — AFP
Abbas Afridi fields off his own bowling during the third T20I cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21, 2025. — AFP
New Zealand men’s captain Michael Bracewell and Pakistan men’s captain Salman Ali Agha during the toss before the third T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand on March 21. — X/TheRealPCB
New Zealand men’s captain Michael Bracewell and Pakistan men’s captain Salman Ali Agha during the toss before the third T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand on March 21. — X/TheRealPCB

Opener Hasan Nawaz struck a record-breaking maiden century on Friday as Pakistan thrashed New Zealand by nine wickets in the third Twenty20 to keep the series alive.

After scoring a duck in each of the two opening games — the first innings’ of his international career — Nawaz rebounded with a stunning 105 not out in Auckland as the tourists raced to 207-1 in just 16 overs in response to New Zealand’s 204.

The 23-year-old’s ton came off 44 balls, the fastest by any Pakistan player in a T20 international.

It ensured his team reached the target with four full overs to spare, in a stark reversal of form after heavy losses in Christchurch and Dunedin.

Nawaz put his early failures behind him with a sparkling knock featuring shots all around the wicket, including a series of audacious ramp shots.

The right-hander peppered the short Eden Park boundaries with 10 fours and seven sixes, bringing up victory with successive fours off Kyle Jamieson in the 16th over.

The first of those shots took Nawaz to 100, five balls faster than the previous Pakistan record-holder — Babar Azam against South Africa in 2021.

Fellow opener Mohammad Haris scored 41 off 20 while captain Salman Agha was unbeaten on 51 off 31.

Earlier, New Zealand looked well placed after Mark Chapman hit a rapid 94 before they were dismissed in their final over.

Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz bats during the third T20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21. —AFP
Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz bats during the third T20 international cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21. —AFP

Chapman dominated after New Zealand were asked to bat, tallying 11 fours and four sixes from just 44 balls faced.

The rest of the home side’s batsmen struggled to get going, aside from captain Michael Bracewell’s 31.

Experienced seamer Haris Rauf bowled Bracewell and finished with Pakistan’s best figures of 3-29.

Game four of the five-match series is in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Opinion

Editorial

Deadlocked
Updated 19 Apr, 2025

Deadlocked

Politicians’ refusal to talk to each other and resolve issues has created space for a different type of rulership to take over.
Trump vs Harvard
19 Apr, 2025

Trump vs Harvard

AMONGST the ‘enemies of the people’ in Trumpian America are elite universities seen as the bastions of liberal...
External account stability
19 Apr, 2025

External account stability

DRIVEN by a major spike in workers’ remittances last month, the country’s current account posted a record ...
Paying the price
Updated 18 Apr, 2025

Paying the price

Pakistan is trapped in a relentless cycle of climate volatility.
Political solution
18 Apr, 2025

Political solution

THOUGH the BNP-M may have ended its 20-day protest sit-in outside Quetta on Wednesday, the core issues affecting...
Grave desecration
18 Apr, 2025

Grave desecration

THE desecration of 85 Muslim graves at a cemetery in Hertfordshire in the UK is a distressing act that deserves the...