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New Zealand’s Twenty20 cricket team continued their excellent form on Tuesday, thrashing Pakistan by five wickets to extend their lead in the five-match series. Chasing a rain-reduced target of 136 from 15 overs, the home side reached 137-5 in just 14.5 overs, securing a crucial victory with 11 balls to spare.
This result came on the back of a blistering start by New Zealand’s opening duo of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, who set the tone early with an aggressive six-hitting display. With this victory, New Zealand now leads the series 2-0 and is in a strong position to wrap up the series with a win in the third match on Friday in Auckland.
Explosive Opening Stand Sets the Tone
The match in Dunedin was defined by the destructive opening stand between Seifert and Allen. The pair put on a show, smashing seven sixes in the first eight scoring shots of their innings. Seifert initially struggled with a maiden off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s opening over, but Allen quickly made up for it by launching three sixes in the second over bowled by Mohammad Ali.
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Seifert then took over, blasting 26 runs off Afridi’s second over, which included four sixes. The pair’s efforts were nothing short of remarkable, with the opening stand proving vital in New Zealand’s chase. Seifert, who had top-scored with 44 in the previous match, was dismissed for 45 off 22 balls. Allen fell soon after, contributing 38 off 16 balls. Despite both openers falling, New Zealand’s momentum remained strong.
Mid-Inning Collapse and Mitch Hay’s Steady Hand
After the departure of Seifert and Allen, New Zealand experienced a brief collapse. Four wickets fell in just four overs, leaving the chase in the balance. However, Mitch Hay provided the stability required to get the team across the line, finishing unbeaten on 21 off 16 balls. His composed batting ensured that New Zealand secured the win despite the mid-innings wobble.
Pakistan’s Struggle with the Bat
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings struggled to get off the ground after being sent in to bat. The team was reduced to 19-2 in the fourth over, following the early dismissal of opener Hasan Nawaz, who failed to score for the second consecutive match in the series. Captain Salman Agha led the recovery with a knock of 46 off 28 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes. He was the backbone of Pakistan’s innings, stabilizing the middle order after the early setbacks.
Shadab Khan also played an important role in the middle order, contributing 26 runs off 14 balls, while Shaheen Shah Afridi remained not out on 22 off 14 balls. Despite some late contributions, Pakistan’s total of 135-9 was not enough to defend against New Zealand’s explosive chase.
New Zealand Bowlers Shine
The New Zealand bowlers were in fine form, with four bowlers picking up two wickets each. Seamer Ben Sears and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, both of whom were recalled for the match in place of Tim Robinson and Kyle Jamieson, made important contributions with the ball. Their efforts helped limit Pakistan’s scoring and ensured that New Zealand had a manageable target to chase.
Looking Ahead to Game Three
With the win in Dunedin, New Zealand now holds a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 series. The team will have the chance to wrap up the series if they secure a victory in the third match, scheduled for Friday in Auckland. New Zealand’s dominant performance, particularly from their openers and bowlers, has put them in an advantageous position, while Pakistan will be looking to bounce back and stay alive in the series.
