New Zealand 137 for 5 (Seifert 45, Allen 38, Rauf 2-20) beat Pakistan 135 for 9 (Agha 46, Sodhi 2-17, Duffy 2-20, Sears 2-23) with five wickets

New Zealand’s powerful powerplay performances with both ball and bats shipped Pakistan comfortably in the second T20i in Dunedin to give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Sodhi compliments NZ’s new ball effort

After New Zealand-stand-in captain Michael Bracewell chose to bowl, Duffy’s rising delivery opened Hasan Nawaz, who misunderstood a shot to the back point of the first over himself. Sears then dismissed an aggressive Mohammad Haris for 11 as he cut the bowler to deep third.

Agha, Pakistan’s captain, then counter -attack to give visitors’ laps a certain driving force, but Bracewell’s introduction of Sodhi paralyzed them. Irfan Khan’s front edge out of Sodhi looked him out to the back, and two balls later went Khushdil back after being caught in front of the stumps of the wrist spinner.

“The guys bowling in the wind bowled especially well,” Bracewell said after the game. “I think when wicket has been under covers for a day or so and offered extra jump, used our bowler’s surface well. We were pretty happy with the scoring at half time.”

Allen, Seifert Bash Pakistan around

Allen, who played in Dunedin for the first time since his record-breaking turn of 16 sixes against Pakistan in January 2024, kick-started the hunt by launching three six-back-of-back-of-a-length deliveries. Seifert went a better one in the third and crushed Afridi for four six -seeds in the arch between extra cover and deeply square legs. With seven sixes in the first three Oversen second best in that phase of any T20i (where there is ball-by-ball data available)-so the openers in a hurry to end the game.

Seifert fell in the fifth over, even when he looked out to a quick half -century when he disproportioned Alis’s slower ball to the middle. But his 22-ball 45 had done Chase Elementary. Allen then smashed left-wing army mags Jahandad Khan for consecutive sixes in the seventh before falling LBW next ball. His 16-ball 38 left New Zealand at 88 for 2 out of seven overs and has only another 48 from so many balls.

“After the first over [maiden]Thought it was a difficult hunt, but then Finn and I combined well, “Seifert, the player of the match returning to the T20i trop in front of this series, said after the game.” Like a kiwi, it’s good to play for the nation and it’s fun to be back with the boys. You play with the world’s best players and it helps you get to know your game. As a player you definitely learn and get better. “

The start allowed New Zealand’s middle order to take their time, though Mark Chapman and Nesham fell for single -digit scores. Haris Rauf, who played instead of Spinner Abrar Ahmed, chose Daryll Mitchell and Nesham in quick order, but Mitchell Hay’s undefeated 16-ball 21 and Bracewell’s winning border took the hosts home with 11 balls left.

“The earth was small and we wanted to attack their bowlers from one end with the wind,” Bracewell said of the Batting performance. “But the openers went big from both ends [smiles]. We are pretty pleased with where things are generally. “

Pakistan-captain Agha said their own powerplay performances were a shutdown.

“It was a better game than last game – very positive things – but get things more to do,” Agha told the TV stations. “We fought better, but we have to finish our batting better. Bowling was decent but we have to be more consistent. We have to understand and adapt to the rejection. After the powerplay we bowled well. We bowled well in patches, [but[ at the same time, we need to be more consistent in powerplay bowling.”