Haris Rauf achieves major milestone in third T20I against New Zealand

Pakistan's fast bowler Haris Rauf achieved a major milestone in his career as he took his 200th international wicket during the third T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park on Friday, March 21, 2025. 

Rauf reached the landmark by dismissing New Zealand’s captain, Michael Bracewell, in the penultimate over of the match. With this achievement, Rauf became the 24th Pakistani cricketer to reach the milestone of 200 international wickets.

The 31-year-old pacer was in superb form, claiming another wicket in the same over, and finished with impressive bowling figures of 3/29 in his four overs.

Rauf’s efforts were well-supported by fellow bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abbas Afridi, Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed, who helped restrict New Zealand to a total of 204 runs in 19.5 overs. New Zealand's Mark Chapman provided resistance with a quick-fire half-century, scoring 94 runs off 44 balls, including 11 fours and four sixes.

In reply, Pakistan chased down the target with ease, losing just one wicket and finishing the game with 24 balls to spare. The chase was led by a blistering century from Hasan Nawaz, along with an unbeaten half-century from captain Salman Ali Agha.

Pakistan’s openers, Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz, got the team off to a flying start, adding 74 runs in the first six overs. Haris, who played an aggressive knock of 41 runs off 20 balls, hit four fours and three sixes before being dismissed on the second last ball of the powerplay.

After Haris’s departure, skipper Salman Ali Agha joined Hasan at the crease, and the pair put on an unbeaten 133-run partnership to see Pakistan home. Hasan remained not out on 105 runs off 45 balls, featuring 10 fours and seven sixes. Agha contributed with an equally impressive 51 runs from 31 balls, including six fours and two sixes.

For New Zealand, Jacob Duffy was the only bowler to pick up a wicket in the innings.