Twitter Reactions: Netizens hail Mark Chapman's brilliant century which helped New Zealand level the T20I series against Pakistan

Chasing a massive target of 194 runs against a quality bowling unit of Pakistan, New Zealand lost three quick wickets of skipper Tom Latham, Will Young and Chad Boyes. The visiting team looked to be under tremendous pressure but that’s when Mark Chapman rose up to the occasion and bailed the Kiwis out of a difficult situation and eventually won the match for his team.

Notably batting first, stumper-batter Mohammad Rizwan wreaked havoc at Rawalpindi. The 30-year-old smacked 98* runs off 60 deliveries to set the tone of the match, which the middle-order batters later capitalised. Batting at number five, Iftikhar Ahmad played a brilliant cameo of 36 runs off 22 deliveries while Imad Wasim hit 31 runs off just 14 deliveries. Courtesy of their meticulous batting, Pakistan posted 193 runs on board, which looked difficult for the Kiwis to chase down, especially since many of their first-team players are currently not playing in the ongoing series due to their participating in the IPL 2023.

Now when it comes to the chase, Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up two wickets in the powerplay and kept New Zealand on their backfoot. However, Chapman showed a lot of composure and hit 11 boundaries and four sixes to help New Zealand win the match by six wickets. Credit also goes to talented all-rounder James Neesham, who was brilliant with the bat as well.

Neesham smacked 45* runs off just 25 deliveries and released pressure off Chapman whenever required. He hit four boundaries and two sixes in the process to help New Zealand chase down a mammoth total of 193 runs. Meanwhile, Chapman was later adjudged as Player of the Match and also the Player of the Series as New Zealand levelled the T20I series 2-2 after being 2-0 down. 

“We are happy to have done the job today. We were 1-2 going into this game. It sort of took a little bit of adjusting as the series. To finish 2-2 is a great result. Remembering to watch the ball till the end. Jimmy came in and started hitting the ball so well,” the all-rounder said after the match as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Here's how Twitter reacted -

priyanshu_18🏏@Pm18pm3

Brilliant Mark Chapman👏 #PAKvNZ

08:50 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Resanth.@CricResanth

What an innings by Mark Chapman, s scoring a hundred in a chase is not an easy thing, but he done well, he came to the crease when NZ were 26/3 made NZ to win the match and drawn the series as 2-2. #PAKvNZ

08:49 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Better call Anish@bettercallanish

So pakistan played their full strength team against NZ C side and still couldnt win a T20I series, what a shame. The sheer stubbornness of Babar to not let youngsters bat is frustrating. #PAKvNZ

08:49 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Saim's Stormers@Saimayubteam

Pakistani team always collapses whether is batting or bowling just one big over or one wicket from their side and they are gone with these problems world cup seems impossible. #PAKvNZ #Pakistan #cricket

08:45 AM · Apr 25, 2023

10

SPORTSBUZZINFO@Sportsbuzinfo

Mark Chapman in the T20 series vs Pakistan: - 34(27) - 65*(40) - 16*(9) - 71*(42) - 104*(57) The hero of Kiwis - Chapman is the hero of the series. What a sensational performance. #PAKvNZ

08:43 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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SPORTSBUZZINFO@Sportsbuzinfo

No Williamson. No Conway. No Boult. No Southee. No Ferguson. No Santner. No Allen. No Bracewell. No Phillips. Still, New Zealand drew the T20I series 2-2 in Pakistan after losing the first 2 matches, one of the great comebacks in recent times. #PAKvNZ #CricketTwitter

08:42 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Farid Khan@_faridkhann

Pakistan havent won a single t20I series at home since Dec 2021 👀, Reason poor captaincy and statpedding. #PAKvNZ | #PakistanCricket

08:36 AM · Apr 25, 2023

21

Abdurehman Mustafa@AbdurehmanMust5

No blame on Rizwan, he played exceptionally with 160 of SR overall, it was all bowlers problem just leaked to many runs where they should have got a wicket. Anyway, Pakistan groomed another star 🎊 congratulations Mark Chapman Never seems good when you loose to a B tram #PAKvNZ

08:32 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Sports Geeez@Sportsgeeez

That was some chase by New-Zealand Well done Mark Chapman & Jimmy Neesham... Too good 💯 by Chapman.. #PAKvNZ #NZvPAK #Chapman #Neesham

08:32 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Bhargav@Bhargav76605307

Na dare na gym kre.... Pakistan ki cricket team hu beta Newzealand ki "B" TEAM se series draw kralu jb bhi Mera Mann kre😂😭💀 #PAKvNZ

08:31 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Doctor Whom@IABurney

We lost because M. Rizwan wanted a century...it really is that simple... #PAKvNZ @TheRealPCB

08:23 AM · Apr 25, 2023

10

Everything Sports@etsports7

Chapman is the champman 💙👏 #PAKvNZ

08:21 AM · Apr 25, 2023

10

𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞@ahmadma11386558

Well played, @TheRealPCB 🤝 Next up: ODIs! 🏏 #PAKvNZ #CricketNation

08:20 AM · Apr 25, 2023

10

JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar)@JaayShaan

#PAKvNZ T20I Series : Most Runs : M Chapman (NZ) 290 M Rizwan (PAK) 162 B Azam (PAK) 130 I Ahmed (PAK) 129 T Latham (NZ) 116 Most Wickets : H Rauf (PAK) 11 I Wasim (PAK) 8 M Henry (NZ) 6 S Shah Afridi (PAK) 6 J Neesham (NZ) 5

08:17 AM · Apr 25, 2023

20

Isfahan Khan@isfy_7

Pakistan would have lost this series too if it wasn’t for the hailstorm #PAKvNZ

08:17 AM · Apr 25, 2023

10

Cow Corner@CowCorner183

This is Pakistan's best T20I squad. Nobody missed the series. PSL talents, always in the news anchors, all the 150+ fast bowlers, even guy who is better than Hasaranga played. This drawn series will take a lot of justification. Unreal. #PAKvsNZ

01:09 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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