KARACHI: New Zealand beat Pakistan in the fourth T20I by seven wickets on Friday in Christchurch to have a 4-0 lead in the five-match series.
The series has been a disaster for the Men in Green's bowling attack led by skipper Shaheen Afridi.
Pakistan bowlers have conceded 803 runs at an average of 10.27 per over in the first four games with one match to go in the series.
This is the most expensive performance of Pakistani bowlers in the T20 series of five matches. This is now the worst bowling performance since the previous record was of 769 runs in the five-match series against New Zealand in 2023.
Remember, Pakistan were ahead in the fourth T20I after New Zealand had slipped to 20-3 in the third over of the run-chase but Phillips and Mitchell stitched a match-winning partnership of 139 runs in 93 balls to get their side over the line with 11 balls to spare.
Mitchell scored 72 runs in 44 balls, meanwhile, Phillips notched up 70 in 52.
All three wickets to fall in New Zealand's inning were claimed by Shaheen.
Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan scored an unbeaten 90 runs as Pakistan set New Zealand a target of 159 runs in the fourth T20I of the series.
Rizwan scored 90 runs in 63 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes.
Mohammad Nawaz scored a quick-fire 21 runs in nine balls, which included three consecutive sixes off pacer Adam Milne in the penultimate over of the innings.
Babar Azam scored 19 runs in 11 balls and added 51 runs in 31 balls for the second wicket with Rizwan.
Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry claimed two wickets each for the home side.
This is Pakistan's first series under new T20 captain Shaheen Afridi ahead of this year's 20-overs World Cup in June.
New Zealand won the first T20I by 46 runs, while they clinched the second by a margin of 21 runs.
The last match of the series is also scheduled in Christchurch on Sunday.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.