WELLINGTON: New Zealand defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the final T20I here on Wednesday to clinch the series 4-1.
Tim Seifert’s 38-ball 97* and James Neesham’s brilliant five-wicket haul helped New Zealand beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the final T20I to clinch the series 4-1.
Seifert’s fiery innings included a flurry of boundaries and sixes as he set the tone for New Zealand’s dominant performance. Meanwhile, Neesham’s exceptional bowling display, taking five wickets for just 22 runs, was the highlight of Pakistan’s batting disaster.
Pakistan, despite a brilliant half-century from Salman Ali Agha, could only manage 128/9 in their allotted overs. Led by Neesham, the New Zealand bowlers wreaked havoc, restricting Pakistan to a low total. Neesham’s brilliant spell devastated the Pakistani middle order, giving them no chance to recover.
In reply, Seifert’s fireworks and the constant support of his teammates ensured that New Zealand were led to victory, winning the series 4-1 in dominant fashion. The victory further consolidated New Zealand’s lead in the series, which showcased their all-round strength.
James Neesham’s first five wickets led to a dominant performance by New Zealand in the final T20I, restricting Pakistan to just 128/9 at the Sky Stadium.
Despite Salman Ali Agha’s half-century, Pakistan’s batting collapsed early, with key wickets including hard-hitting opener Hasan Nawaz falling for ducks. Agha and Shadab Khan provided resistance with a 54-run partnership, but Neesham dismissed both of them, along with other key batsmen, to restrict Pakistan.
Neesham finished with figures of 5/22, supported by Duffy (2 wickets), while Ish Sodhi and Ben Sears took one wicket each.
Team Pakistan is all set to take on New Zealand in the final match of the 5-match series at the Wellington Regional Stadium today, Wednesday, hoping to end the series on a positive note after already losing the series 4-1.
Despite a heavy defeat at Mount Maunganui last week, the Men in Green are determined to secure a win in the dead rubber. The Asian team has already lost the series, but the team is focused on finishing its T20I campaign with a strong performance, aiming to build momentum ahead of the upcoming ODI series.
There are expected changes to Pakistan’s playing XI for the final game, with key players like Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan in question following their poor performances in the earlier games. Experts suggested that both the players should be rested for the final match so that the other players get a chance to prove themselves.
Pacer Mohammad Ali could make his debut in the series while batsman Usman Khan is also set to join the playing XI.
New Zealand is likely to remain unchanged in the fifth T20I. Despite missing several key players, the hosts have dominated the series, leaving a lot to be desired for Pakistan.
Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahmood expressed confidence in the team’s fighting spirit despite the series defeat. He said that the team is determined and we will adapt to the conditions in the final match. “While individual performance is improving, we need a strong collective effort to end the series on a high.”
As Pakistan is trying to end the series on a positive note, all eyes will be on their performance in the final match against a strong New Zealand.
Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 Squad
Pakistan: Mohammad Haris (wicket), Hassan Nawaz, Salman Agha (c), Irfan Khan, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Shaheen Afridi, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Usman Khan, Mohammad Ali, Sufyan Muqim, Jehandad Khan, Umair Yousuf.
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Hay (wicket), Michael Bracewell (c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, William O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Zachary Foulkes.
