Pakistan beat New Zealand by nine wickets in the third T20I of the five-match series, with Hassan Nawaz starring as he scored a brilliant century in Auckland.

The win cut New Zealand's lead to 2-1 in the series after the tourists successfully chased the total of 204 set for them.

Right-handed batter Nawaz had been a debutant for Pakistan in the first T20I of the series and was dismissed for a duck in both of the first two matches.

But the 22-year-old made amends for those dismissals as he smashed his century in 44 balls, helping Pakistan chase the target within just 16 overs.

Mark Chapman had dominated for the hosts, who batted first, scoring 94 runs off just 44 balls himself. Taking advantage of the shorter boundaries at Eden Park, he hit 11 fours and four sixes.

But with no other New Zealand batter scoring more than 31, the home side were unable to build too heavily on Chapman's impressive innings.

Instead, it was Pakistan who took the initiative when chasing. Nawaz reached an unbeaten 105, while Jacob Duffy was the only bowler who managed to take a wicket during their innings, with Mohammad Haris (41) caught after 20 balls.

Captain Salman Ali Agha came in to hit an unbeaten half-century (51) and help his team to 207-1, with their dominant win offering hope of a series fightback.

 CENTURY IN HIS THIRD T20I 

Hasan Nawaz smacks the FASTEST T20I hundred by a Pakistan batter, off 44 balls #NZvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/UTduvlnxM4

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 21, 2025

Data debrief: Tourists cruise to first win in series

Nawaz's century was the fastest from any Pakistan player in a T20I match.

Given that it came on only his third ever international appearance, it was also Nawaz's first for Pakistan.

The impressive innings also came after he became only the sixth batter to register two consecutive ducks in his first two international games.