Pakistan haw departed Dunedin for Auckland as they prepare for the third T20I against New Zealand on Friday.
The national squad will hold a practice session at Eden Park from 2 PM to 5 PM local time as they look to recover from back-to-back losses in the series. Third T20I in the series will take place on Friday March 21.
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Pakistan’s struggles continued in the second T20I after failing to defend 135 in a rain-shortened 15-over contest. New Zealand’s openers, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, launched a rapid 66-run stand, setting the tone for a dominant chase.
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Seifert’s 45 off 22 balls ended when Mohammad Ali claimed his maiden T20I wicket, while Allen smashed 38 off 16 before falling to Jahandad Khan.
Pakistan made brief inroads, dismissing Mark Chapman (1) and Jimmy Neesham (14), but a steady 35-run partnership between Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Hay kept New Zealand on course. Haris Rauf removed Mitchell (14), yet Michael Bracewell and Hay sealed the win with 11 balls to spare.
Pakistan’s batting woes continued with early wickets once again derailing their innings. Captain Salman Ali Agha and Irfan Khan built a 31-run stand before Ish Sodhi’s double strike in the seventh over removed Irfan (11) and Khushdil Shah (2), leaving Pakistan struggling at 52-4.
Agha fought back with a 28-ball 46, supported by Shadab Khan’s 24, but their dismissals exposed the lower order. A late 22-run cameo from Shaheen Afridi pushed the total to 135, which proved insufficient.
With the series slipping away, Pakistan will aim for a turnaround in Auckland to keep their chances alive.