Dunedin (Web Desk): New Zealand’s openers put on a scintillating display in the second T20I, overpowering Pakistan with a five-wicket win to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Chasing a rain-impacted target of 136, the hosts were cruising at 137-5 with 11 balls to spare.
The opening stand between Tim Seifert and Finn Allen was nothing short of explosive, with the pair launching a barrage of sixes that left Pakistan's bowlers scrambling.
Seifert, after a quiet first over, exploded with 26 off Shaheen Afridi’s second, including four sixes, while Allen cleared the ropes three times in Mohammad Ali's second over.
Though Seifert fell for 45 and Allen followed soon after for 38, New Zealand's momentum never waned.
The middle order had a brief hiccup as four wickets fell in quick succession, but Mitch Hay’s composed 21* ensured the win was sealed with ease.
Earlier, Pakistan's innings never truly got going, as they slumped to 19-2 after losing opener Hasan Nawaz for a duck again. Captain Salman Agha led the recovery with a valuable 46, hitting four fours and three sixes, but Pakistan’s total never seemed enough. Shadab Khan’s aggressive 26 and a late 22 not-out from Afridi were the only bright spots.
New Zealand's bowlers, led by Ben Sears and Jimmy Neesham, took two wickets each, keeping the pressure on the visitors throughout.
With the series now poised at 2-0, New Zealand will look to wrap things up in Auckland on Friday.
Teams
Pakistan: Mohammad Haris (w), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (c), Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Hay (w), Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears.