Opening the innings in the absence of likes of Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, Tim Seifert made it count as he smashed Pakistan's premier pacer Shaheen Afridi for four sixes in an over. Using the small dimensions count at University Oval, Dunedin, the opener took the aerial route often against the left-arm pacer and it paid off.
In the run chase of 136, Afridi started well with a maiden. He appealed for lbw and DRS but the ball was pitching outside leg.
Seifert makes Afridi pay
After a maiden, Seifert decided to take him on. On the first ball of third over, he cleared his front leg and smashed the ball over the bowler's head for a six. Afridi pitched at it length again and Seifert hit it over cover for a six. Afridi pulled the length back a bit and it led to a dot ball. Then, he bowler a fuller length and Seifert managed to take a couple of runs. But Afridi bowled another length ball and paid the price for it. Seifert hit it for a six over deep mid-on. On the last ball, Afridi bowled a short delivery which was dismissed with disdain by Seifert over deep square leg for another maximum.
Seifert misses half-century
Seifert hit a boundary off left-arm spinner Khushdil Shah as well. As Salman brought Mohammad Ali back from other end, he took the attacking route against him as well. He started the fifth over with a six over deep midwicket. He got an edge off the slower delivery and found a boundary. Ali lost his line and bowled a no ball. Seifert smashed the free hit full length delivery for a four towards cover. Ali bowled the slower ball again but this time Seifert did not have power on the shot and was caught by Afridi. He became Seifert's maiden T20I wicket.
Seifert wins 'Player of the match'
After Seifert's 22-ball 45, Pakistan could not make a comeback despite getting wickets in the middle overs. They chased down the target with 11 balls to spare. Seifert was adjudged 'Player of the match'.
"[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," the 30-year-old said in the post-match presentation.