Hasan Nawaz's Record-Breaking Century Leads Pakistan to Victory Over New Zealand

March 21, 2025 In an electrifying display of power-hitting, Pakistan's opener Hasan Nawaz smashed an unbeaten 105 off just 45 balls, steering his team to a convincing nine-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I at Eden Park, Auckland. Nawaz's century, achieved in a mere 44 deliveries, marks the fastest by a Pakistani in T20 internationals, breaking Babar Azam's previous record of a 49-ball hundred against South Africa in 2021.

Match Highlights: New Zealand Innings: The home team set a challenging total of 204 runs, putting pressure on Pakistan. Pakistan's Response: Nawaz, along with fellow opener Mohammad Haris, got things rolling with a fiery start, racking up 74 runs in just 5.5 overs. After Haris was dismissed, captain Salman Ali Agha joined Nawaz, and together they built an unbroken 133-run partnership, leading Pakistan to a remarkable 207-1 in only 16 overs. Significant Achievements: Fastest 200-Plus Chase: Pakistan's chase is now the quickest for a 200-plus target in T20Is, wrapped up in just 16 overs. The previous record was held by South Africa, who chased down 206 runs in 17.4 overs against the West Indies during the 2007 T20 World Cup. Nawaz's Redemption: The 22-year-old Nawaz showed incredible resilience, bouncing back from two consecutive ducks in his first two international innings to deliver a match-winning performance.