New Zealand secured a commanding 5-wicket win in rain-shortened challenging conditions 15-overs-a-side contest, with disciplined bowling and a composed batting display leading the way.
Player of the Match Tim Seifert played a crucial role with 45 in the chase, forming a strong partnership with Finn Allen (38) to guide the team home.
Reflecting on the team’s bowling performance, Michael Bracewell praised the effort of the attack, especially those who had to contend with the wind.
The bowling was extraordinary, first of all. The guys bowling into the wind today bowled particularly well and kept them to a score which we're pretty happy with. The wicket had been undercover for a day or so, offering a little extra bounce, and we had to make sure we used it. I thought the death bowlers bowled really well today.
Despite the tricky conditions, New Zealand executed their plans effectively, making adjustments to their usual death bowling tactics to capitalise on the surface.
That's definitely an assessment during the game. That probably goes away from the instincts of the death bowlers a little bit, not using yorkers and things like that. But we just tried to use the wicket today, and we're pretty happy with the score at half-time. It was a small ground, and bowling into the wind was tough, but our bowlers handled it well.
Pakistan's skipper Salman Agha acknowledged the improvements in his side’s performance compared to the previous match but emphasised the need for greater consistency.
It was freezing (out there), but it was a good game. It was a better game than the last one, a lot of positives, but obviously, a few things to work on. I think we batted a bit better in this game, but we still need a better finish. Fielding was outstanding, and bowling was good in patches, but we need to be more consistent.
Agha highlighted Pakistan’s struggles in the Powerplay and the need for better adaptation to the conditions.
As soon as we understand that the bounce is different and adjust to it, I think we will be a better team. After the Powerplay, we bowled really well. I think our spinners did a good job, and then Haris came in and bowled really well. But we need to be better at the start, both in batting and bowling.
Seifert, who played a match-winning innings, was delighted to contribute to the team’s success and spoke about his approach to the chase.
I thought after that first over (laughter), it could be a tricky wicket, but yeah, it's a great win. Batting with Finn, the partnership, and working off each other, I thought we batted well. To be honest, there are not too many conversations. We've played a lot of cricket together, and it's just about backing our skills and putting pressure on the bowlers when we can.
Seifert also spoke about the experience of returning to the squad and how franchise cricket has helped him grow as a player.
“Loving it! Playing for your nation is always a dream, and it's awesome to be back with the boys and having fun. Playing franchise cricket helps because you're up against the world's best in different conditions, which improves your game. As a player, you learn when to put pressure on bowlers and when to relax,” he said.
Having put aside nerves after a tough first game behind the stumps, Seifert was relieved to deliver a strong performance with the bat.
“To be honest, when you drop two catches in the first game, you get a bit nervous. It’s something I always try to work on. Some teams have better keepers, but I know I have to keep improving,” he admitted.
With another convincing win, New Zealand continues their strong run, while Pakistan will look to address their inconsistencies as they aim to bounce back in the next fixture.
Brief Scores: New Zealand vs Pakistan – 2nd T20I, University Oval. Pakistan: 135/9 (15 overs) Salman Ali Agha 46 (28 balls), Shadab Khan 26, Shaheen Shah Afridi 22*, Ben Sears 2/23, Ish Sodhi 2/23, Jacob Duffy 2/27, James Neesham 2/28; New Zealand: 137/5 (13.1 overs) Tim Seifert 45, Finn Allen 38, Haris Rauf 2/20; New Zealand won by 5 wickets and leads the series 2-0.
