Pakistan suffered yet another batting collapse as they were beaten comprehensively by hosts New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I at Sky Stadium, Wellington. James Neesham took five wickets for 22 runs and Tim Seifert scored an unbeaten 97 as New Zealand chased down the total of 129 with eight wickets in hand and 10 overs to spare. The hosts won the five-T20I series 4-1 in the absence of prominent players who are playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for their respective franchises.
Another poor start
Skipper Michael Bracewell won the toss and opted to bowl first. Jacob Duffy struck early as he dismissed Hasan Nawaz for a three-ball duck. The young opener registered his third duck on the tour. Mohammad Haris fell for a 17-ball 11 to Be Sears whereas Duffy dismissed Omair Yousuf. Pakistan were 27/3 after powerplay overs. Ish Sodhi was introduced into the attack and he got the wicket of Usman Khan. At the halfway stage, Pakistan were 52/4.
Salman scores fifty, Neesham takes fifer
Neesham made an impact in his first over with the wicket of Abdul Samad. Skipper Salman Agha and Shadab Khan tried to get the innings back on track. Neesham returned to dismiss Shadab and Jahandad Khan in the 17th over. In the penultimate over, Salman reached his fifty from 37 balls. Neesham then dismissed the captain who scored 51 runs from 39 balls. He finished his spell with Sufiyan Muqeem's wicket to complete fifer. This is the second-best bowling figures for New Zealand against Pakistan. The visitors managed to post 128/9 as Haris Rauf's catch was dropped off the last ball of the innings.
Maximum Kiwi power in powerplay overs
Seifert got the run chase off to a blazing start with two sixes and a four off Jahandad. Finn Allen gave Mohammad Ali a similar treatment with two fours and a six. New Zealand crossed the 50-run mark in the fourth over. Jahandad came back into the attack in the sixth over and Seifert hit him for three sixes and a four. He reached his fifty from just 23 balls. New Zealand were 92 for no loss after powerplay overs.
Muqeem strikes twice but Seifert goes berserk
Left-arm chinaman bowler Sufiyan Muqeem got the breakthrough by knocking over Allen who contributed with a 12-ball 27 cameo featuring five fours and a six. In his second over, Muqeem got the wicket of an in-form Mark Chapman as well. In the 10th over, Seifert smashed Shadab for four sixes including three in a row to finish the run chase. He remained unbeaten for 97 runs from just 38 deliveries. His knock featured 10 sixes and eight fours.