Hassan Nawaz Smashes Pakistan's Fastest T20 Century in Thrilling Victory Over New Zealand

In a stunning display of power-hitting, Hassan Nawaz etched his name in cricket history by scoring Pakistan's fastest T20 century during the third match against New Zealand at Eden Park. The 22-year-old opener, playing just his third international game, smashed an unbeaten 105 runs off 45 balls, leading his team to a commanding nine-wicket victory.

Match Highlights

• New Zealand posted a challenging total of 204/10 in their 20 overs, thanks to a blistering 94 off 44 from Michael Chapman.
• Haris Rauf was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking 3/29 to restrict the Kiwis.
• Chasing 205, Pakistan's innings was dominated by Nawaz, who hit 10 fours and 7 sixes, reaching his century in just 44 balls—beating Shahid Afridi's previous record by five deliveries.

Key Moments

1. Opening Partnership: Nawaz and Mohammad Haris (41 off 20) set the tone with a 74-run stand.
2. Powerplay Dominance: Nawaz accelerated after the powerplay, reaching his half-century in 26 balls.
3. Captain's Support: Captain Salman Agha (51 off 31) provided solid backing as Nawaz sealed the win with consecutive boundaries.

Series Update

With this victory, Pakistan kept the five-match series alive, trailing 2-1 ahead of the fourth game at Mount Maunganui.

Historical Context

Nawaz's century is now the fastest T20 hundred by a Pakistani player, surpassing Shahid Afridi's record set in 1996. His innings also marked a spectacular turnaround after scoring ducks in his first two international appearances.

New Zealand's Struggles

Despite Chapman's heroics, New Zealand's batting faltered, with Michael Bracewell (31 off 18) being the only other batter to cross 20 runs. The loss extended a tough day for Kiwi fans, who also saw their women's team fall to Australia at the same venue.

Pakistan's emphatic win showcased their depth and talent, setting the stage for an exciting series finale.