ISLAMABAD,April26(Xinhua)--NewZealandclaimedacrucial2-1leadinthefive-matchTwenty20International(T20I)cricketseries,edgingpastPakistanbyamerefourrunsinanail-bitingencounterattheGaddafiStadiuminthehost'seasterncityofLahoreonThursdaynight.Withtheseriesfinelypoised,bothteamsgearupforthedecisivefifthmatch,slatedforApril27,afteronematchcouldnotbedecisiveduetoheavyrain.Earlierintheevening,Pakistanwonthetossandelectedtofieldfirst.LaterNewZealand'sinningswaspropelledbyafierystartfromopenersTimRobinsonandTomBlundell,whostitchedasolid56-runpartnership.DespitePakistan'sZamanKhan'sbreakthrough,Robinsonpressedon,notchinguphismaidenT20Ififty.Pakistanfoughtback,withAbbasAfridiandUsamaMirclaimingcrucialwicketsinthemiddleovers.AlatesurgebyNewZealandskipperMichaelBracewellhelpedvisitorspostacompetitivetotalof178runs.Pakistan'spursuitofachallenging179-runtargetgotofftoashakystart,losingskipperBabarAzamforonlyfiverunsearlyintheinnings.YoungbattersSaimAyubandUsmanKhantriedtoinjectmomentum,butquickdismissalshaltedtheirprogress.FakharZamanheldfirmatoneend,formingacrucialpartnershipwithIftikharAhmed,adding61runsbutaquickfallofwicketscouldn'tavertthepressureonthehostsandPakistanfinishedat174,fallingshortofthetarget.PakistancaptainBabarAzamsaidthetargetcouldbechasedeasilyifnotforthebattingcollapse,losingthreewicketsinthepowerplay.TheskipperexplainedthattheyhavebeentestingdifferentcombinationsbyincludingyoungplayerstofinalizetheteamthatwouldplaytheWorldCup.■Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.