Mitchell Santner praises Pakistan team despite T20I series loss

New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner praised Pakistan team despite T20I series loss against the home side in Dunedin on Wednesday.

Pakistan lost the match by 45 runs as New Zealand took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

However, Santner said that Pakistan are a better team than the scoreline suggests.

“Pakistan are a very good team and they've shown that when they've come here and wherever we play them,” Santner said after the match.

It must be noted that Finn Allen smashed 137 runs in 62 balls as New Zealand set Pakistan a daunting 225-run target in the third T20I.

In reply, Babar Azam, 58 off 37, scored his third consecutive fifty of the series but it was not enough to take Pakistan over the line.

Pakistan reached 95 for two in the 11th over, but saw a clutch of wickets derail their chase, losing four for just 39 runs.

Mohammad Nawaz scored 28 runs in 15 balls, with the help of two fours and as many maximums.

Santner bowled an economical spell, taking one wicket for 26 runs in four overs.

Allen took Pakistan to the cleaners as he notched up the highest individual score for New Zealand in men's T20Is, surpassing the previous best of 123 set by Brendon McCullum. He also hit the joint-most sixes, 16, in an innings in men's T20Is.

Rauf conceded 60 off his four overs while Mohammad Nawaz gave up 44 and Shaheen Afridi 43 on a dismal day with the ball for Pakistan.

The remaining two matches are in Christchurch on Friday and Sunday.

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