Seifert’s 45 and Allen’s 38 helped New Zealand win a 15 over rain shortened match, securing a 2-0 series lead
Toss, Venue & Playing XI
The second T20I match was played in Dunedin, where New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Playing XI:
Pakistan: Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha (c), Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Hay, Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
Impact of Rain
Due to rain, the match was delayed, and after some inspections, umpires decided to reduce the game to 15 overs per side.
Pakistan’s Struggles Continue in 2nd T20I Against New Zealand
Just like the first T20I, Pakistan’s new openers failed to perform in the second match as well. New Zealand bowlers Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, and Ben Sears dominated Pakistan’s batting lineup from the start.
Duffy struck in the very first over, dismissing Hasan Nawaz for 0, caught at point. Mohammad Haris also failed to make an impact, scoring just 10 runs before getting out to Ben Sears while attempting a shot towards deep third. Pakistan lost two wickets for just 19 runs.
Captain Salman Ali Agha took responsibility and tried to stabilize the innings. He, along with Irfan Khan, built a 31-run partnership to steady the team. However, as soon as Ish Sodhi came into the attack, Pakistani batters found themselves in trouble. Sodhi dismissed Khushdil Shah and Irfan Khan, breaking Pakistan’s middle order.
Despite losing partners at the other end, Salman Ali Agha continued his aggressive approach. He played a crucial knock of 46 runs, trying to rescue Pakistan from a tough situation. But Ben Sears dismissed him, pushing Pakistan further into difficulty.
At 76 for 5, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi brought some momentum. Both played attacking cricket, scoring 26 and 22 runs, respectively. Their quick runs helped Pakistan reach a total of 135. However, Jahandad and Abdul Samad couldn’t contribute much.
New Zealand bowlers delivered a brilliant performance, taking nine wickets and restricting Pakistan to a below-par total of 135.
Key Performers (Pakistan Batting):
- Salman Ali Agha: 46 runs (28 balls)
- Shadab Khan: 26 runs (14 balls)
New Zealand Bowling:
- Jacob Duffy: 2 wickets for 20 runs (3 overs)
- Ben Sears: 2 wickets for 23 runs (3 overs)
- Ish Sodhi: 2 wickets for 17 runs (2 overs)
New Zealand Dominates Pakistan to Take 2-0 Lead in the Series
Chasing 136 on batting-friendly pitches in Dunedin was not a tough task. However, Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Pakistan a great start by bowling a maiden over. But in the very next over, Finn Allen took charge and smashed three sixes off Mohammad Ali, giving New Zealand an explosive start.
Seifert also joined the attack, hitting four boundaries off Shaheen Afridi in the next over. With seven sixes in the first three overs, New Zealand took complete control of the chase.
Mohammad Ali finally broke the momentum by dismissing Seifert for 45 runs, and later, Jahandad Khan removed Finn Allen for 38. But by then, New Zealand had already reached 88 for 2 and remained in full control of the match.
Mark Chapman and James Neesham tried to play cautiously but couldn’t stay long at the crease, getting out with the score at 97 for 4. After that, Daryl Mitchell contributed 14 runs before falling to Haris Rauf.
Captain Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Hay finished the chase comfortably. Hay played a quick 21-run knock off 16 balls, helping New Zealand reach the target in just 13.1 overs with five wickets in hand.
With this victory, New Zealand secured a 2-0 lead in the series.
Key Performers (New Zealand Batting):
- Tim Seifert: 45 runs (22 balls)
- Finn Allen: 38 runs (16 balls)
Pakistan Bowling:
- Haris Rauf: 2 wickets for 20 runs (3 overs)
- Khushdil Shah: 1 wicket for 16 runs (3 overs)
Match Summary
- Pakistan: 135/9 (15 overs)
- New Zealand: 137/5 (13.1 overs)
New Zealand won by 5 wickets with 11 balls remaining.
Tim Seifert’s Explosive Knock Secures Victory and Man of the Match Award
Tim Seifert played a brilliant and aggressive innings, giving his team a strong start and playing a key role in securing the victory. He smashed 45 runs off just 22 balls, putting Pakistan under pressure right from the beginning.
His attacking batting not only set the foundation for the chase but also made the target look easy for New Zealand. Because of his outstanding performance, he was awarded the Man of the Match.
Scorecard
Pakistan Batting
| Batsman | Runs |
|---|---|
| Mohammad Haris | 11(10) |
| Hasan Nawaz | 0(3) |
| Salman Ali Agha(c) | 46(28) |
| Irfan Khan | 11(9) |
| Khushdil Shah | 2(2) |
| Shadab Khan | 26(14) |
| Abdul Samad | 11(7) |
| Jahandad Khan | 0(2) |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 22*(14) |
| Haris Rauf | 1(1) |
| Extras | 5(lb3, wd2) |
| Total | 135/9 |
New Zealand Bowling
| Bowler | O-R-W-E |
|---|---|
| Jacob Duffy | 3-20-2-6.66 |
| Zakary Foulkes | 3-32-0-10.66 |
| Ben Sears | 3-23-2-7.66 |
| James Neesham | 3-26-28.66 |
| Ish Sodhi | 2-17-2-8.50 |
| Michael Bracewell | 1-14-0-14.00 |
New Zealand Batting
| Batsman | Runs |
|---|---|
| Tim Seifert | 45(22) |
| Finn Allen | 38(16) |
| Mark Chapman | 1(6) |
| Daryl Mitchell | 14(14) |
| James Neesham | 5(4) |
| Mitchell Hay | 21*(16) |
| Michael Bracewell(c) | 5*(2) |
| Extras | 8(lb3, nb1, wd4) |
| Total | 137/5 |
Pakistan Bowler
| Bowler | O-R-W-E |
|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 3-31-0-10.33 |
| Mohammad Ali | 2-34-1-17.00 |
| Khushdil Shah | 3-16-1-5.33 |
| Haris Rauf | 3-20-2-6.66 |
| Jahandad Khan | 1.1-23-1-19.71 |
| Shadab Khan | 1-10-0-10.00 |
If you want to watch the highlights of the Pakistan vs New Zealand 1st T20I match, click on the link below:
http://13.250.19.227/pakistan-vs-new-zealand-2025-1st-t20i-match-highlights/
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