Dunedin (Sports News): New Zealand continued their dominance over Pakistan, securing a 5-wicket victory in the second T20I to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
The match, held on Tuesday in Dunedin, saw a delayed start due to rain, reducing each innings to 15 overs. After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to field first.
Pakistan’s Struggles with the Bat
Pakistan’s batting lineup faltered early, losing opener Hassan Nawaz for a duck with just one run on the board. Mohammad Haris followed soon after, departing for 11 with the total at 19. Irfan Khan (11) was dismissed at 50, while Khushdil Shah managed only 2 runs before Pakistan slumped to 52-4.
Captain Agha Salman led the resistance with a 28-ball 46, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Shadab Khan contributed 26 off 14 balls before getting dismissed at 110. Pakistan’s lower order also struggled, with Jahandad Khan falling for a duck at 111, Abdul Samad scoring 11, and Haris Rauf run out for 1 as Pakistan posted a modest 135/9 in 15 overs.
New Zealand’s Chase
Chasing 136, New Zealand successfully reached the target in just 13.1 overs, losing five wickets along the way. The victory solidified their dominance in the series, leaving Pakistan with an uphill battle to stage a comeback.
For this match, Pakistan made one change to their lineup, bringing back Haris Rauf in place of spinner Abrar Ahmed. With this win, New Zealand now holds a 2-0 advantage in the five-match T20I series against Pakistan.
