New Zealand Clinches 5-Wicket Win in Rain-Shortened Second T20I to Take 2-0 Series Lead:

After a disastrous 91 all-out in Christchurch, Pakistan showed some improvement with the bat in Dunedin during the second T20I. However, their total of 135/9 in a rain-shortened 15-over-a-side match wasn't enough to challenge New Zealand. The hosts chased down the target with ease, securing a five-wicket victory with 2.5 overs to spare, and taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

New Zealand's Strong Bowling Attack

Opting to bowl first, New Zealand's pacers capitalized on the lively surface, striking early to put pressure on the Pakistan top order. Jacob Duffy dismissed Hasan Nawaz for a duck, while Ben Sears removed Mohammad Haris (11). Ish Sodhi then had a twin strike in the seventh over, removing Irfan Khan (11) and Khushdil Shah (2), leaving Pakistan at 52/4.

Captain Salman Agha was the lone bright spot for Pakistan, scoring a fighting 46 off 28 balls, including 4 fours and 3 sixes. Shadab Khan added a brisk 26 off 14, but regular wickets at the other end prevented any substantial partnerships. James Neesham struck twice in the 13th over, removing Jahandad Khan and Abdul Samad, while a late flourish from Shaheen Afridi (22* off 14) helped Pakistan reach a total that, although respectable, was never quite enough.

New Zealand's Comfortable Run Chase

The run chase started with a quiet maiden over from Shaheen Afridi to Tim Seifert, but the momentum shifted dramatically in the following over. Finn Allen (38 off 16) hammered Mohammad Ali for three sixes, and Seifert exploded in the third over, hitting four sixes, including a massive shot over deep mid-wicket. By the end of the third over, New Zealand had raced to 44/0, effectively making the chase a formality.

Pakistan did manage to make inroads with key wickets. Mohammad Ali removed Seifert (45 off 22) for his first T20I wicket, while Jahandad Khan trapped Allen lbw. Mark Chapman fell for 1 off 6 balls, and James Neesham (5) was dismissed by Haris Rauf in the ninth over, leaving New Zealand needing 39 more runs.

Pakistan briefly sensed an opportunity, but a dropped catch by Shadab Khan off Mitchell Hay allowed the batsman to settle. Shadab later redeemed himself with a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Daryl Mitchell (14 off 14). Despite these breakthroughs, the early assault by Allen and Seifert ensured the required rate was never under threat.

Mitchell Hay (21 off 16) and captain Michael Bracewell (4) calmly guided New Zealand to the target, with Bracewell hitting the winning boundary off Jahandad Khan in the 14th over.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan: 135/9 in 15 overs (Salman Agha 46, Shadab Khan 26; Ish Sodhi 2-17, Jacob Duffy 2/20)
New Zealand: 137/5 in 13.1 overs (Tim Seifert 45, Finn Allen 38; Haris Rauf 2-20)

Result: New Zealand won by 5 wickets