Pakistan gave a better account of themselves with the bat in Dunedin after folding for 91 in Christchurch, but their 135/9 in a rain-pruned 15-over-a-side contest in the second T20I was still not meaty enough to concern New Zealand. The hosts got over the finish line with 2.5 overs to spare and took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Opting to field, New Zealand had the better of the opening exchanges. Jacob Duffy dismissed Hasan Nawaz for a consecutive duck whereas Ben Sears had Mohammad Haris caught at third man. While Pakistan’s top order fell prey to pace and bounce once again, it was Ish Sodhi’s double whammy in the seventh over that left the visitors tottering at 52/4.
Captain Salman Agha was the ray of light among the clouds, his 28-ball 46 consisting of 4 fours and 3 sixes. Shadab Khan (26 off 14) lent him a helping hand but with James Neesham striking twice in the 13th over, momentum kept eluding the men in green. A late flourish from Shaheen Afridi (22* off 14) lifted Pakistan to 135/9, but defending that competitive total was a challenge considering the archetypal short boundaries.
Shaheen Afridi bowled a maiden to Tim Seifert to kick off proceedings. However, the balance of the game swung the other way in the next over as Finn Allen (38 off 16) tore apart Mohammad Ali to get New Zealand up and running. Seifert too joined in the fun as New Zealand raced to 44/0, effectively setting the chase on autopilot mode.
Crucial breakthroughs – Mohammad Ali removed Seifert (45 off 22) for his first T20I wicket and Jahandad Khan trapped Allen lbw before Mark Chapman got 1 off 6 – brought Pakistan back into the contest. Moreover, when Haris Rauf removed James Neesham (5) around the halfway mark, Pakistan briefly smelt blood. Shadab Khan then dropped a simple chance at cover to let off Mitchell Hay, even as he redeemed himself with a blinder to sent Daryl Mitchell (14 off 14) packing.
Albeit, the early assault from Allen and Seifert had ensured the required rate never kicked up to a bothersome level despite the brakes that Pakistan managed to apply. Mitchell Hay (21 off 16) and captain Michael Bracewell (4) calmly guided the hosts home, with the latter sealing the win with a boundary off Jahandad in the 14th over.
