WELLINGTON: James Neesham’s five-wicket pull, followed by Tim Seifert’s swashbuckling half-century gave New Zealand a impressive nine-wicket victory in the final T20I of the five-match series against Pakistan at the Sky Stadium on Wednesday.
Fixed to game a modest 129, the home side securely knocked the charming runs for the loss of just two wickets and 60 balls to extra, politeness of a blazing opening stand between Seifert and Finn Allen.
The duo added a quick-fire 93 runs until Allen was discharged by Sufiyan Muqeem in the seventh over. He counted 27 off 12 deliveries with the help of five fours and a six.
Muqeem caused a stirring in New Zealand’s run chase by getting in-form Mark Chapman confused in his next over.
Though, Seifert constant his attack and steered New Zealand over the line with an unbeaten 87 off 38 deliveries, studded with six fours and 10 sixes.
He was also complex in a one-side 28-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell, who counted two not out.
For Pakistan, Sufiyan Muqeem was the private wicket-taker, making two scalps for just six runs in his two overs.
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell’s decision to put Pakistan into bat salaried dividends as the touring side could register a modest total on the board although Salman Ali Agha’s half-century.
The companies got off to an unwanted start as they lost hard-hitting opener Hasan Nawaz (0) in the second over with just five runs on the board.
Next the early delay, Omair Bin Yousuf joined Mohammad Haris in the middle for a brief 18-run stand, which was followed by their back-to-back notices.
Haris recorded 11 off 17 deliveries with the help of two boundaries, while Yousuf made seven.
The green shirts then lost two more wickets in quick succession as Usman Khan (seven) and Abdul Samad (four) cold cheaply.
Their notices had reduced Pakistan to 52/5 in 10.2 overs until skipper Agha and experienced all-rounder Shadab recorded an fastening company.
The duo added an important 54 runs for the sixth wicket until Shadab was detached by James Neesham on the first delivery of the 17th over.
The all-rounder keep count 28 off 20 transfers with the help of five boundaries.
Neesham imposed another blow on the visitors as he sent Jahandad Khan back in the same over as Pakistan slipped further to 108/7 in 16.4 overs.
Agha also fell prey to Neesham in the penultimate over and walked back after top-scoring for Pakistan with a 39-ball 51, comprised of six fours and a six.
Neesham was the standout bowler for New Zealand, taking five wickets for just 22 runs in his four overs, surveyed by Duffy with two, although Ish Sodhi and Ben Sears fragmented in with one scalp each.
