WELLINGTON: New Zealand outclassed Pakistan with a commanding eight-wicket victory in the final T20I at Sky Stadium on Wednesday. The hosts chased down the modest target of 128 with ease, winning with 60 balls to spare.
Tim Seifert and Finn Allen provided a blazing start, adding 93 runs for the first wicket. Allen smashed 27 off 12 balls, including five fours and a six, before Sufiyan Muqeem dismissed him in the seventh over.
Muqeem struck again in his next over, removing Mark Chapman. However, Seifert remained unstoppable, hammering an unbeaten 87 off 38 balls with six fours and 10 sixes.
Daryl Mitchell (2 not out) supported Seifert in finishing the chase comfortably. Muqeem was the only wicket-taker for Pakistan, taking 2 for 6 in two overs.
Pakistan’s Struggles with the Bat
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell opted to bowl first, and his decision paid off as Pakistan failed to build momentum.
Pakistan’s innings started poorly. Hasan Nawaz (0) fell in the second over, followed by Mohammad Haris (11) and Omair Bin Yousuf (7), leaving the visitors struggling at 23/3.
The middle order collapsed further as Usman Khan (7) and Abdul Samad (4) departed cheaply. By the 11th over, Pakistan was 52/5.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan revived the innings with a 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Shadab scored 28 off 20 balls, hitting five boundaries, before James Neesham removed him in the 17th over.
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Neesham struck twice in the same over, dismissing Jahandad Khan (4). He then removed Agha in the 19th over. Agha top-scored for Pakistan with a 39-ball 51, featuring six fours and a six.
New Zealand’s Bowling Excellence
James Neesham was the star with the ball, taking 5 for 22 in four overs. Jacob Duffy claimed 2 wickets, while Ish Sodhi and Ben Sears took one each.
Pakistan was bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs, which New Zealand chased with ease to claim the series win.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Omair Bin Yousuf, Salman Agha (c), Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Ali.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitch Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke.
