New Zealand Thrashes Pakistan to Lead Series 2-0

News Desk

Islamabad: New Zealand’s openers launched a six-hitting spree on Tuesday, dominating Pakistan by five wickets and taking a 2-0 lead in their Twenty20 series.

Chasing 136 to win in a rain-affected match in Dunedin, New Zealand reached 137-5 with 11 balls to spare, moving closer to winning the five-match series. Pakistan had posted 135-9 in 15 overs.

The highlight for New Zealand was an explosive opening partnership between Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, where seven of the first eight scoring shots were sixes.

Seifert faced a maiden over from Shaheen Shah Afridi but then Allen hit three sixes in the second over, bowled by Mohammad Ali. Seifert followed up by smashing 26 runs off Afridi’s second over, including four sixes.

Seifert, who had top-scored with 44 in New Zealand’s nine-wicket victory in Christchurch on Sunday, was dismissed for 45 off 22 balls. Allen followed shortly after, falling for 38 off 16 balls, with both openers hitting five sixes each.

New Zealand lost four wickets in four overs midway through the chase, but Mitch Hay’s unbeaten 21 ensured they crossed the line safely.

Earlier, Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha top-scored with 46 off 28 balls, leading a recovery after Pakistan lost opener Hasan Nawaz for a duck for the second time in the series.

Pakistan were at 19-2 in the fourth over, but Agha’s knock, which included four fours and three sixes, helped them recover. Shadab Khan was aggressive in the middle order, scoring 26 off 14 balls, and Afridi remained not out on 22 off 14.

Four New Zealand bowlers claimed two wickets each, including seamer Ben Sears and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, who were both recalled in place of Tim Robinson and Kyle Jamieson.

New Zealand can seal the series with a win in game three in Auckland on Friday.