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It rained sixes at University Oval, Dunedin from New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen's bats as the hosts chased down the target of 136 with 11 balls to spare in rain-curtailed 15 overs per side encounter on March 18. Pakistan bowlers did not look lethal at the start and then could not make a comeback as the Salman Agha-led side suffered their second T20I defeat on the tour.
After poor start, cameos help Pakistan set 136-run target
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell won the toss and opted to bowl first. Pakistan openers disappointed once again. Hasan Nawaz got out for a three-ball duck to Jacob Duffy whereas a fidgety Mohammad Haris threw his wicket away against Ben Sears after a 10-ball 11. Salman looked to attack but Ish Sodhi did halted the momentum with wickets of Irfan Khan and Khushdil Shah in the seventh over. Salman missed his half-century as Sears came back into the attack and got his wicket.
He scored 46 runs from 28 balls including four fours and three sixes. Shadab Khan contributed with a 14-ball 26 cameo. In the 13th over, Jimmy Neesham struck twice to dismiss Abdul Samad and Jahandad Khan. Shaheen Afridi's unbeaten 14-ball 22 cameo helped Pakistan post 135/9 on the board.
Seifert, Allen punish Pakistan pacers
Afridi started with a maiden over against Seifert. Allen took on Mohammad Ali and whacked three sixes in the second over. Allen went one step ahead and smashed Afridi for four sixe sin 26-run over. Seifert hit Ali for a six and two fours before losing out on a half-century. He scored 45 runs from 22 balls. Allen went ballistic against Jahandad hitting him for a four and two sixes before getting out lbw. The opener scored 38 runs from 16 balls.
Khushdil and Haris Rauf helped Pakistan stay in the game as they dismissed Mark Chapman and Neesham respectively. But the required run rate was not threatening. Rauf dismissed Mitchell Hay in the 13th over but it was a consolation wicket. Bracewell finished the run chase with a boundary on the first ball of the 14th over. New Zealand have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-T20I series.
Seifert was named 'Player of the match' for his 45-run knock. Despite hitting sixes with ease, he said that the wicket was tricky.
"[It] Was great fun. Thought it could be a tricky wicket after the first over. Not too much conversations. Just backed our skills. Always playing for your team is a dream. You are playing with the world's best players. You need to know the way you want to play. You learn and get better. I dropped two catches in the firsy game. [I] Was nervous on the field," Seifert said in the post-match presentation.
