2nd T20I: New Zealand Defeats Pakistan by 5 Wickets, Leads 2-0 in Series
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Synopsis
In the second T20I match held in Dunedin on March 18, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets, taking a 2-0 lead in the T20I series. Pakistan scored 135 runs, while New Zealand chased it down successfully in 13.1 overs.
Key Takeaways
- New Zealand leads the T20I series 2-0.
- Salman Ali Agha scored 46 runs for Pakistan.
- Tim Seifert was the top scorer for New Zealand with 45 runs.
- Match reduced to 15 overs per side due to rain.
- Haris Rauf took two wickets for Pakistan.
Dunedin, March 18 (NationPress) New Zealand maintained their impressive performance in the T20I series against Pakistan, achieving a convincing 5-wicket victory in the second match at University Oval, thereby taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
In a rain-affected match reduced to 15 overs per side, Pakistan was invited to bat first and managed to score 135/9, with captain Salman Ali Agha contributing significantly with a brisk 46 runs off 28 balls, including four fours and three sixes. Other notable contributions came from Shadab Khan (26) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (22 not out). For the New Zealand team, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, and James Neesham each took two wickets.
New Zealand's response was swift, with openers Tim Seifert (45) and Finn Allen (38) forging a rapid 66-run partnership for the first wicket, successfully chasing down the target in just 13.1 overs while losing five wickets. Haris Rauf was the standout bowler for Pakistan, claiming two wickets for 20
After stand-in captain Michael Bracewell chose to bowl first, Duffy made an early breakthrough by dismissing opener Hasan Nawaz. Ben Sears quickly followed with another vital wicket, sending back the aggressive Mohammad Haris for just 11 runs.
Despite Agha's efforts to counterattack with some aggressive shots, Sodhi hindered Pakistan's progress by taking down Irfan Khan and trapping Khushdil Shah LBW in quick succession.
Agha's exciting innings of 46 runs gave Pakistan a glimmer of hope but his dismissal in the tenth over left the team in a precarious position. Late innings contributions from Shadab (26 off 14 balls) and Afridi (22 off 14 balls) helped Pakistan reach 135/9.
In their chase for 136, New Zealand's openers wasted no time in accelerating the scoring, with Allen launching three massive sixes off Mohammad Ali in the second over. Seifert joined the assault in the third over, dispatching Afridi for four sixes scattered between extra cover and deep square leg. By the end of the third over, New Zealand had already hit seven sixes.
Seifert's innings of 45 runs from 22 balls ended in the fifth over when he misplayed a slower ball from Mohammad Ali. Allen continued his aggressive batting, hitting Jahandad Khan for consecutive sixes in the seventh over before being dismissed LBW on the next delivery. His contribution of 38 off 16 balls left New Zealand in a strong position at 88/2 after seven overs, needing just 48 runs from the remaining deliveries.
However, Mark Chapman fell cheaply to Khushdil Shah in the next over, while Rauf quickly took out both Daryl Mitchell and Neesham. Nevertheless, Mitchell Hay remained unbeaten with 21 runs off 16 balls, alongside a boundary from Bracewell, to secure the win for New Zealand.
Pakistan 135-9, 15 overs (Salman Ali Agha 46, Shadab Khan 26, Shaheen Shah Afridi 22 not out; Ish Sodhi 2-17, Jacob Duffy 2-20, Ben Sears 2-23, James Neesham 2-26)
Brief scores: New Zealand 137/5 in 13.1 overs (Tim Seifert 45, Finn Allen 38; Haris Rauf 2-20) beat Pakistan 135/9 in 15 overs (Salman Agha 46, Shadab Khan 26; Jacob Duffy 2-20, Ben Sears 2-23) by five wickets.
