Another match, another disappointing result for Pakistan in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. But this time, there were glimpses of fight. The Men in Green showed improvement from their previous game, yet New Zealand comfortably chased down 135 in a rain-affected 15-over contest in Dunedin, winning by five wickets with 11 balls to spare.
A Better Performance, But Still Not Enough
Pakistan’s batting woes continued, as early wickets put them under pressure once again after they were invited to bat first.
Captain Salman Ali Agha and Irfan Khan tried to rebuild, but New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi turned the game with a double strike in the seventh over, dismissing both Irfan (11) and Khushdil Shah (2) in quick succession.
Despite the setbacks, Agha played a responsible knock, scoring 46 off 28 balls to anchor the innings. Shadab Khan chipped in with 24, while a late 22-run cameo from Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan something to defend.
But was 135 ever going to be enough? Not against a power-packed New Zealand batting lineup.
New Zealand Dismantle Pakistan
Pakistan needed early wickets, but the Kiwis had other plans. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen exploded out of the blocks, smashing 66 runs for the first wicket.
Seifert’s 45 off 22 balls set the tone before he fell to Mohammad Ali, who claimed his maiden T20I wicket. Allen, however, kept going, hammering a 16-ball 38 before Jahandad Khan got the breakthrough.
Pakistan fought back in the middle overs. Haris Rauf dismissed Jimmy Neesham (14), while Khushdil Shah removed Mark Chapman for just one.
At 97-4, Pakistan sniffed a comeback, but Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Hay calmly guided New Zealand home. Haris struck again to remove Mitchell (14), but by then, it was too little, too late.
Skipper Michael Bracewell and Hay ensured New Zealand crossed the finish line with ease.
Salman Ali Agha’s Honest Assessment
After the game, Salman Ali Agha acknowledged the team’s improvement but stressed the need for better execution.
“It was freezing. But it was a better game than the last one. Our batting improved, and fielding was outstanding. Bowling was good in patches, but we need to adapt to the different bounce here,” Agha said in the post-match conference.
He pointed out Pakistan’s struggles in the powerplay—both with the bat and ball. “After the powerplay, we bowled well, and Haris bowled brilliantly. But we need to improve in the powerplay as a bowling unit and as a batting unit,” he added.
Pakistan showed signs of progress, but the same issues persist—a fragile batting order, inconsistent bowling, and an inability to seize key moments.
With the series slipping away, can Pakistan bounce back in the next game? Or will New Zealand continue to dominate? Pakistan fans will be hoping for a turnaround before it’s too late.
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