By AZ Khan
DUNEDIN: New Zealand romped to a five-wicket win over Pakistan to stretch their lead to 2-0 in the five T20 International series in Dunedin on Tuesday.
In the rain-curtailed show which was reduced to 15 overs a side Pakistan posted 135-9.
Skipper Agha Salman led from the front, striking a 28-ball 46, featuring four fours and three sixes. Shadab Khan made a 14-ball 26 carrying two sixes and two fours. Shaheen Afridi made a rapid 14-ball 22 not, hitting two sixes and one four.
Earlier after being invited to bat first Mohammad Haris (11) and Hasan Nawaz (0) once again failed to give a good start to their team which kept losing wickets at regular intervals and the entire side was restricted to a total which was not easy to defend.
Pacer Jacob Duffy (2-20), Ben Sears (2-23), James Needham (2-26) and Ish Sodhi (2-17) bowled with tight line and length which troubled the batsmen.
In response New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen batted aggressively and put pressure on Pakistan.
The duo punished the Pakistani bowlers with ease and raced to the target 11 balls to spare.
Seifert was too ruthless with his approach as he smashed five sixes and three fours in his l 22-ball 45 before being held by Mohammad Ali off Shaheen Afridi.
It was Mohammad Ali who removed Seifert in the fifth over to give Pakistan a breakthrough.
Finn Allen pressed the pedal hitting Jahandad Khan for a few big shots before being trapped lbw by the same left-armer for a 16-ball 38 hitting five sixes and one four.
It was Jahandad who trapped Allen leg before which the third umpire confirmed.
Motchell Hay remained not out on a 16-ball 21 which carried one six and one four.
Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers with 2-20 in three overs. It was a tough day for the Pakistani bowlers as they conceded too many runs.
Mohammad Ali conceded 34 runs in two overs, Jahandad Khan gave away 23 in just seven balls while front-line pacer Shaheen Afridi conceded 31 runs in three overs.
