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Opener onslaught powers Blackcaps to victory in rain-affected second T20 against Pakistan
Sport Nation • March 18th, 2025 6:30 pm
Photo: Photosport
The Blackcaps have closed out a five-wicket win in the rain-affected second Twenty20 international against Pakistan at Dunedin's University Oval on Tuesday.
The inclement weather that forced the abandonment of the Whites Ferns' curtain raiser against Sri Lanka saw the match reduced to 15 overs.
Having lost the toss, an improved Pakistan laid on a formidable total of 135/9.
After a maiden over to start the NZ chase, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert launched a barrage of sixes in a phenomenal display of power hitting.
The duo smoked 66 runs off 29 balls to put their side well ahead of the run rate, before Seifert departed for 45 off 22, a knock which included five sixes, with Finn Allen adding five sixes of his own in his 38 off 16.
Seifert and Allen smash a flurry of sixes at University Oval | Sport Nation Cricket
That set the foundation for Mitch Hay (21no off 16 balls) and Michael Bracewell (5no) to see the Blackcaps home with 1.5 overs to spare.
It was a much improved performance with the bat for Pakistan, after their collapse in the opening match for just 91.
The visitors managed the reduced over-rate well, losing wickets regularly but getting plenty of valuable quickfire contributions along the way.
The most notable of those was from captain Salm Agha, who slammed 46 off just 28 balls to give his side's innings the early impetus.
Shadab Khan came to the party with 26 off 14 balls, and Shaheen Shah Afridi provided the fuel injection late with a flurry of 22 off 14 to lift the total to a highly competitive 135/9.
The bowling contribution was balanced for the New Zealanders, with Jacob Duffy, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodhi and Ben Sears claiming two wickets apiece.
Allen was the early spark for the Blackcaps with the bat, blasting three sixes from the first six deliveries he faced.
Allen was the early spark for the Blackcaps with the bat, blasting three sixes from the first six deliveries he faced.
Seifert joined in the fun the next over with consecutive sixes to see the locals through to 30/0 off just two overs - all of those runs coming from rope-clearing strikes.
Mark Chapman (1) and Neesham (5) departed cheaply. Daryl Mitchell played a hand of 14, leaving Hay and Bracewell to do the final honours.
The teams now head north to Auckland for the third match of the series at Eden Park.
Wally Lees believes NZ batters should be proud of display in second T20 win over Pakistan | Sport Nation Cricket
Earlier, rain spoiled the White Ferns' strong start in the second T20 against Sri Lanka.
Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates (31 off 28) put on an opening stand of 60 runs off 50 balls, before the skipper holed out in the ninth over.
Emma McLeod and Brooke Halliday didn't hang around long, but Plimmer was well supported by Izzy Sharp, making her way to 46 off 37 balls when the deluge resumed, with the hosts at 101/3 in the 15th.
The abandoned match means New Zealand share the series honours 1-1 with Sri Lanka.
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