With the series already decided, both sides made changes for this match. Pakistan brought in Usman Shinwari and Waqas Maqsood for Hasan Ali, and Shaheen Afridi, whilst New Zealand, meanwhile, replaced Corey Anderson, Adam Milne and Ajaz Patel with Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson and Seth Rance respectively.
It was Pakistan, chasing their 12th successive T20 victory who won the toss in Dubai and opted to bat first. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman gave their side a steady start with a stand of 289, which was broken when two of the new men combined, Mark Chapman catching Fakhar off the bowling of Ferguson for 11.
However, Babar and Mohammad Hafeez then assumed total control of proceedings, with a stand of 94 for the second wicket of 11 overs, with the New Zealand bowlers struggling to maintain a modicum of control. Babar eventually fell at the start of the 17th over, caught by Tim Southee off the bowling of Colin de Grandhomme.
He had scored 79 off 58 balls, including 2 sixes and 7 fours. Still the attack continued, Shoaib Malik providing a brief cameo of 19, before he too fell to Grandhomme for 19, caught by Fergusson, However, there was still time for Hafeez to reach his 50,as Pakistan closed on the imposing target of 166/3; he was 53 not out at the end having hit 2 sixes and 4 fours.
Any hopes that New Zealand had were dealt an early blow when Colin Munro was bowled by Faheem for just 2 in the second over. Worse then was to follow as de Gramdhomme was run out by Shinwari for 6. Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips bravely tried to bring their side back into the match with a stand of 83 for the third wicket, but Williamson, having played a captain’s innings with a knock of 60 fell to Shadab Khan, caught by Babar. He had struck 2 sixes and 8 fours.
Two balls later, his partner departed, bowled by Shadab for 26. Then, in the next over, New Zealand lost two men in two balls, Chapman stumped off the bowling of Imad Wasim, who then bowled Tim Seiffert. A bizarre hat-trick of dismissals was then completed when Tim Southee was run out off the first ball of the next over.
When Ross Taylor, the last recognised batsman was caught behind off the bowing of Shadab, New Zealand had lost 6 wickets for the addition of just 11 runs. Ferguson was the next man out, caught behind off Maqsood for a single. Last man out was Rance, bowled by Maqsood for 1, leaving Ish Sodhi unbeaten on 11, as his side were bowled out for 119.
Babar Azam was named man of the match for his fine innings.