Seifert remained unbeaten on 97 after Neesham’s five-wicket haul restricted Pakistan to 128.
New Zealand Crushes Pakistan to Seal T20I Series 4-1
New Zealand ended the T20I series with a dominant win over Pakistan. They began and finished the series with total control. Tim Seifert smashed an unbeaten 97 off just 38 balls. His explosive knock powered New Zealand to chase 129 in only 10 overs. James Neesham starred with the ball, taking a clinical five-wicket haul. Pakistan struggled to 128, never recovering from early damage.
Disciplined Bowling Gives New Zealand Early Edge
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first. Will O’Rourke and Jacob Duffy were tight and threatening with the new ball. They removed three Pakistani batters during the power play. Hassan Nawaz fell for a duck, his third in five matches. Despite scoring a century at Eden Park, he managed only one run in four other games. Neesham struck in the middle overs, leaving Pakistan reeling at 52 for 5. Pakistan’s top order collapsed under pressure, leaving captain Agha Salman stranded.
Agha Salman and Shadab Khan offered the only real resistance. They put together a 54-run stand in just 35 balls. Neither is a natural power hitter, but they rotated the strike effectively.
They read the field well and found gaps to score freely.
Their counterattack briefly lifted Pakistan’s run rate.
Shadab lost his cool after being denied a free hit. He edged the next delivery to the keeper and walked off furious. His dismissal triggered a lower-order collapse. Pakistan’s tail folded tamely as wickets fell rapidly. Agha Salman reached his second fifty in three games. But Neesham returned to finish the job ruthlessly. He cleaned up the tail, grabbing four wickets in the final four overs. Pakistan managed only 128, setting a modest target.
Seifert’s Onslaught Seals It for New Zealand
New Zealand’s chase was a batting masterclass from Tim Seifert. He smashed boundaries all over the park with fearless hitting. Seifert’s 97* came off just 38 deliveries with explosive strokeplay. New Zealand reached the target in just 10 overs. They completed a 4-1 series win in dominant fashion.
Seifert and Allen Launch Blistering Start for New Zealand
New Zealand began their chase with a bang against Pakistan. Jahandad Khan’s opening went for 18 runs.
Seifert and Finn Allen attacked every fast bowler Agha introduced. Five of the first six overs produced double-digit scores. The aggression didn’t slow as the power play progressed. Pakistan returned to Jahandad Khan in the sixth over. Seifert punished him with three sixes and a four. New Zealand smashed 25 runs off the final powerplay over. They reached 92/0 in six overs—their highest powerplay score in T20Is.
Muqeem Strikes, but Pakistan Remain on the Back Foot
Sufiyan Muqeem entered the attack after the power play. He brought some brief control to Pakistan’s bowling. He dismissed Allen with his second delivery. Flight and pace variation beat the New Zealand opener.
Muqeem then removed Chapman with a quicker delivery. Mohammad Haris completed the stumping with quick reflexes. Muqeem’s two overs cost just six runs for two wickets. His spell offered Pakistan a rare moment of relief.
Seifert Finishes in Style, Shadab Taken Apart
Spin didn’t work for Pakistan in the final overs. Shadab Khan’s last over was brutally expensive. Seifert smashed four sixes in six balls to seal victory. Three consecutive sixes ended the match in dramatic fashion. Shadab leaked over 26 runs and ended the one-sided contest. New Zealand chased down 129 with ease and style.
New Zealand will be encouraged by their depth and form, while Pakistan is left grappling with deeper concerns.
