New Zealand Clinches T20I Series 4-1 with Dominant Win Over Pakistan

Sports Cricket

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-03-27 08:56:15 |

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New Zealand wrapped up their T20I series against Pakistan in emphatic fashion, securing a crushing eight-wicket victory in Wellington to seal a 4-1 series win. The hosts were powered by Tim Seifert’s breathtaking 97* off just 38 balls and Jimmy Neesham’s superb bowling spell of 5/22, which dismantled Pakistan’s batting lineup.

Opting to bowl first on a lively Sky Stadium pitch, New Zealand’s bowlers exploited the seam-friendly conditions to stifle Pakistan’s batting efforts. Jacob Duffy and Ben Sears struck early, reducing Pakistan to 27/3 in the PowerPlay. Despite a fighting half-century from skipper Agha Salman (51 off 39) and a handy knock from Shadab Khan (28 off 20), Pakistan struggled to put up a competitive total. Neesham’s lethal spell tore through the middle and lower order, restricting Pakistan to a meager 128/9 in 20 overs—at least 40 runs short of a par score.

New Zealand's response was swift and brutal. Seifert and Finn Allen (27 off 12) put on a sensational 93-run opening stand in just six overs, the highest-ever PowerPlay total in a T20I match in New Zealand. Allen’s quick-fire innings ended, and Mark Chapman fell soon after, both dismissed by Sufyan Muqeem (2/6). However, Seifert was unstoppable, smashing ten sixes, including three in a row off Shadab Khan to finish the match in just 10 overs.

This dominant performance capped off an excellent series for New Zealand, who controlled four of the five matches with ease. Pakistan’s only victory came in the second T20I, thanks to Hasan Nawaz’s brilliance, but the visitors struggled throughout the series with their inexperienced batting lineup and inability to handle New Zealand’s aggressive approach.

With this commanding series win, New Zealand further cemented its reputation as one of the strongest T20I teams. Meanwhile, Pakistan will need to address its batting inconsistencies and strengthen its squad ahead of future international tournaments.

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