New Delhi: New Zealand secured a dominant 5-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second T20I on Tuesday, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Pakistan suffered their second consecutive defeat, failing to defend their total against a powerful Kiwi batting lineup. Tim Seifert was named the Player of the Match for his explosive 45-run innings, which included four massive sixes in a single over of Shaheen Afridi. Finn Allen also played a crucial role in New Zealand’s comfortable chase.

Pakistan’s Struggles with the Bat

After being put to bat first, Pakistan managed to score just 136 runs in their 20 overs. The top-order struggled, but Salman Agha played a fighting knock of 46 runs off 28 balls, smashing 4 fours and 3 sixes. Shadab Khan contributed 26 runs off 14 balls, hitting 2 fours and 2 sixes. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to provide stability, leading to another underwhelming performance.

New Zealand’s Explosive Chase

Chasing 136, New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen started aggressively, dismantling the Pakistani bowling attack. Seifert smashed 45 off 22 balls, hitting 5 sixes and 3 fours, while Allen hammered 38 off 16 balls, including 5 towering sixes.

Despite losing a few wickets in the middle overs—Mark Chapman (1), Daryl Mitchell (14), and James Neesham (5)—New Zealand reached the target in just 13.1 overs. Mitchell Hay remained unbeaten on 21 off 16 balls, and captain Michael Bracewell finished with 5 runs* to guide the team to victory.

Pakistan’s Bowling Woes Continue

Pakistan’s bowlers once again struggled to contain New Zealand’s aggressive batting. Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler, picking up 2 wickets, while Mohammad Ali and Khushdil Shah took one wicket each. However, their efforts were not enough to stop the Kiwi batters from chasing the target with ease.

What’s Next?

With this win, New Zealand leads the five-match series 2-0. Pakistan now faces a must-win situation in the third T20I, which is scheduled to take place on March 21 in Auckland. The team will need a major turnaround to stay alive in the series and avoid a series defeat.