Tim Seifert and Finn Allen Shine in New Zealand’s Five-Wicket Win Over Pakistan

Victory was achieved smoothly as New Zealand reached 137-5 with 11 balls remaining, following Pakistan’s total of 135-9 from a rain-affected 15 overs in their second match of the series.

New Zealand’s fireworks began with an emphatic opening partnership between Seifert and Allen, marked by an astonishing display of six-hitting. Seven out of the first eight scoring shots were sixes, showcasing their dominance.

Seifert, after playing a maiden off Shaheen Shah Afridi in the opening over, exploded into form, smashing 26 runs off Afridi’s second over, including four sixes, before departing on 45 runs from 22 balls. Allen, shortly after, also departed for 38 runs off just 16 balls, with both openers contributing five sixes each.

“We aimed to be positive, get ahead in the chase early, and make it comfortable for our middle order to finish it off,” mentioned Allen, whose confidence in securing the target was evident. He noted that despite the 15-over game format, defending on the field poses challenges due to the small boundaries and the ball’s tendency to fly, estimating that a competitive target would have been around 170.

New Zealand’s innings saw a crunch phase where four wickets fell within a span of four overs during the chase. Mitch Hay swiftly came to the rescue with an unbeaten innings of 21, setting the seal on victory.

In Pakistan’s innings, captain Salman Agha was the top scorer, contributing 46 runs off 28 balls. This came after a challenging start, losing opener Hasan Nawaz without a run for the second consecutive game in the series. Despite this, Agha’s innings featured a mix of well-timed fours and sixes, indicating hisцевry in middle-order batting.

The middle order saw an aggressive performance from Shadab Khan, contributing 26 off just 14 balls, with Afridi, not out on 22 from 14, also making a substantial impact.

New Zealand’s bowling effort saw contributions from four bowlers, with Ben Sears and Jimmy Neesham, both recalled for the match, taking two wickets each. This strategic decision proved fruitful, underscoring the team’s adaptability and depth.

Having already secured victory in the opening match by nine wickets after restricting Pakistan to 91, New Zealand can now claim the series with a win in the third game scheduled for Friday in Auckland.