New Zealand clinched their second consecutive victory in the ongoing five-match T20I series, comfortably chasing down a target of 136 runs against Pakistan at Dunedin’s University Oval on Tuesday. The rain-shortened match saw New Zealand’s aggressive batting overpower Pakistan’s bowling attack.
Pakistan, batting first in the 15-overs-a-side match, posted a modest total of 135-9. Captain Salman Agha led from the front with 46 runs, while Shadab Khan (26) and Shaheen Afridi (22) provided some resistance. However, Pakistan’s top order struggled, with key players like Hassan Nawaz and Khushdil Shah failing to make an impact.
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New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, and Ben Sears, were highly effective, each taking two wickets and keeping Pakistan’s total in check. Their disciplined bowling laid the foundation for a relatively easy chase.
In response, New Zealand made light work of the 137-run target, thanks to crucial contributions from Tim Seifert (45 off 22) and Finn Allen (38 off 16). Despite Pakistan taking a few wickets, New Zealand reached the target in just 13.1 overs with five wickets down. Pakistan’s bowling efforts, led by Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, could not halt New Zealand’s charge.
This victory puts New Zealand 2-0 up in the series, with three more matches to go.
