New Zealand’s explosive start with the bat helped them crush Pakistan by five wickets, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. The hosts reached 137-5 with 11 balls to spare in the rain-affected second T20I in Dunedin, after Pakistan posted 135-9 off 15 overs.
New Zealand’s opening partnership was a spectacle of power-hitting, with Tim Seifert and Finn Allen leading the charge. Remarkably, seven of the first eight scoring shots in their innings were sixes. Seifert, who had top-scored with 44 in New Zealand’s dominant win on Sunday, began by playing a maiden over off Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, Allen quickly got into his rhythm, smashing three sixes in the second over bowled by Mohammad Ali. Seifert then followed suit, launching 26 runs off Afridi’s second over, including four sixes.
Seifert’s aggressive knock of 45 from 22 balls came to an end soon after, with Allen following for 38 off 16 balls. The openers hit five sixes each, setting the tone for a big chase. However, New Zealand’s momentum slowed momentarily as they lost four wickets in the space of just four overs. Despite the collapse, Mitch Hay’s unbeaten 21 guided them home safely to victory.
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings faced early setbacks, with captain Salman Agha playing a crucial role in stabilizing the innings after they were reduced to 19-2 in the fourth over. Agha top-scored with 46 off 28 balls, featuring four fours and three sixes. Shadab Khan added some aggression in the middle order with 26 off 14 balls, while Shaheen Afridi remained not out on 22 off 14.
Four New Zealand bowlers took two wickets each, including seamer Ben Sears and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, who were both recalled to the side in place of Tim Robinson and Kyle Jamieson.
With New Zealand now leading the series 2-0, they will look to seal the win in the third T20I in Auckland on Friday.
