A scintillating unbeaten 97 off just 38 balls from Tim Seifert, backed by a maiden T20I five-wicket haul by James Neesham, propelled New Zealand to a crushing eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final T20I at Wellington on Wednesday. With this win, New Zealand secured a 4-1 series triumph in the five-match series.
Key Highlights:
Seifert’s Storm: 97 Off 38 Lights Up Wellington*
Opening the chase of 129, Tim Seifert came out firing, smashing 18 runs off the first over bowled by Jahandad Khan. He continued the onslaught in the sixth over, clobbering 25 runs, including three towering sixes. His blistering innings included:
- 6 fours
- 10 sixes
- A strike rate of 255.26
Seifert found brief support from Finn Allen, who made a quickfire 27 off 12 before falling in the seventh over with the score at 93. After Mark Chapman departed cheaply for three, Daryl Mitchell (2*) joined Seifert to finish the job, as New Zealand reached 131/2 in just 10.4 overs.
Neesham’s Magic Spell: 5-22 Cripples Pakistan
Earlier, Pakistan were restricted to 128/9, with only Salman Agha (51 off 39) and Shadab Khan (28 off 20) showing resistance. The pair rescued the team from a dismal 52/5, stitching a 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
But it was James Neesham who stole the bowling spotlight with figures of:
- 4 overs
- 22 runs
- 5 wickets (his first five-wicket haul in T20Is)
Jacob Duffy (2-18) also starred, dismissing Hasan Nawaz for his third duck of the series and following up with the wicket of Omair Yousuf.
Pakistan’s Batting Collapse and Team Changes
Pakistan’s innings struggled from the outset with early wickets falling to Duffy’s swing and seam. Batsmen found it difficult to counter the extra bounce offered by the Wellington pitch, where Ben Sears also kept things tight in his return to the XI.
Pakistan made five changes to their squad:
- Omair Yousuf
- Usman Khan
- Jahandad Khan
- Sufyan Moqim
- Mohammad Ali
New Zealand made one change, bringing in Ben Sears for Zak Foulkes.
Wellington Pitch Report Favors Pace
The Wellington surface once again lived up to its reputation, offering extra bounce and early seam movement. While challenging for batters early on, it turned out to be a paradise for aggressive stroke-makers like Seifert once the ball softened.
What’s Next: ODI Series Begins Saturday
With the T20I series wrapped up in dominant fashion by the hosts, the focus now shifts to the ODI leg of the tour, beginning on Saturday in Napier.
A Statement Series Win for New Zealand
New Zealand’s comprehensive series win, highlighted by Tim Seifert’s career-best T20I innings and James Neesham’s bowling masterclass, sends a strong message ahead of the upcoming ODI series. For Pakistan, major questions remain about batting depth and adaptability in New Zealand conditions.
The Hindustan Herald Is Your Source For The Latest In Business, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Breaking News, And Other News. Please Follow Us On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, And LinkedIn To Receive Instantaneous Updates. Also Don’t Forget To Subscribe Our Telegram Channel @hindustanherald