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Cricket

'150 wale bowlers kaam nahi aye?' Fans react as Mark Chapman scores ton as New Zealand beat Pakistan in fifth T20I

Mark Chapman scored a century to win the final T20I against Pakistan. Here's the full story and the best reactions on Twitter.

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Jennifer
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Mark Chapman, New Zealand

Mark Chapman, New Zealand (Source: Twitter)

With the stakes at their highest, Mark Chapman finally carried out his threat to do this throughout the series. The 28-year-old scored an unbeaten 57-ball 104 while chasing down 194 to create a comeback for the ages and stun Pakistan in a dazzling exhibition of brilliantly clean hitting against some of the best bowlers in T20 cricket.

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Despite being down 2-0 after two games, it is the second-highest total ever chased against Pakistan in T20Is, and it also ensures that New Zealand ends the series even. Additionally, it marks New Zealand's 100th T20I victory, a milestone that will be honoured in New Zealand T20I legend.

When they arrived in Pakistan from halfway around the world with only one practice session before the series started, few people would have given them much hope of accomplishing this. Due to the reduced character of their team—eight first-team players were absent due to IPL duty—the challenge was made even more difficult. When Imad Wasim struck to dismiss Daryl Mitchell, leaving New Zealand reeling at 73 for 4 at the midway point, victory appeared impossible even on the day.

Mark Chapman and James Neesham remained the stars for New Zealand

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Chapman, who finished the series with 290 runs after being removed just once, was still unaccounted for by Pakistan, and it made all the difference. He struck Faheem Ashraf for 14 in the eleventh over to message Pakistan that the game and series were unfinished. They should have paid attention to the warning but could not stop Chapman's attack. Chapman destroyed every Pakistani bowler, fast and slow, right-arm and left-arm, with James Neesham's unbeaten 45 off 25 providing more than plenty of support.

New Zealand had turned the game around as 71 runs were scored in the following five overs. Chapman kept attacking despite approaching his hundred by this point. Shaheen Shah Afridi had bad luck; Shadab Khan missed an easy catch before Afridi dropped him on 98 off his bowling. Because of his carelessness, he could sprint back for two and finish the 100 he so well deserved.

By this point, the equation for the final two overs was run-a-ball, which was simple for Chapman in this form. With four balls remaining, a small push into the on side clinched the outcome, delivering Pakistan a reality check - and a bloodied nose - before the five-match ODI series gets underway later this week.

Here's how fans reacted:

New Zealand Pakistan featured Twitter Reactions Pakistan vs New Zealand 2023