Dunedin [New Zealand], March 18 (ANI): Solid innings from opening batsmen Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, along with strong performances from the fast bowlers, enabled New Zealand to claim a five-wicket victory against Pakistan in the second T20 international match of their five-game series held in Dunedin on Tuesday.

Thanks to this victory, New Zealand leads the five-match series 2-0, with three matches remaining.

New Zealand won the coin toss and decided to field first. Early wickets from Ben Sears (2/23) and Jacob Duffy (2/20) dismissed Pakistani batsmen Mohammed Haris (11) and Hasan Nawaz (0), leaving Pakistan at 19/2 after just 3.1 overs.

Captain Salman Agha and Irfan Khan propelled Pakistan to a score of 36/2 within the first six overs. However, Irfan (11), along with Khusdil Shah (2), were swiftly dismissed by Ish Sodhi, which brought Pakistan’s total down to 52/4 by the seventh over.

Agha ultimately succumbed to Sears after scoring an admirable 46 off 28 deliveries, which included four boundaries and three sixes. This left Pakistan with only half of their team remaining, having amassed just 76 runs in 9.2 overs.

Shadab Khan (26 off 14 deliveries, including two boundaries and two maximums) along with Shaheen Afridi (an unbeaten 22 from 14 balls, featuring two fours and one six) provided valuable contributions lower in the batting order. This helped Pakistan reach 135 for 9 in their allotted 15 overs during the rain-shortened game.

In their pursuit of 136 runs, Seifert and Finn began with an explosive display, as Allen smashed three consecutive sixes off Mohammed Ali in the second over, followed by Seifert hammering four sixes from Shaheen Shah Afridi in the subsequent over.

New Zealand achieved the 50-run milestone within four overs.

Ali broke the 66-run partnership by dismissing Seifert for 45 runs off 32 deliveries, which included three boundaries and five maximums. At this point, New Zealand stood at 66/1 after 4.4 overs.

Allen formed a short alliance with Mark Chapman, yet his rapid innings came to an abrupt end when Jahandad Khan dismissed him caught behind/lbw for 38 runs off only 16 deliveries, which included one boundary and five maximums. As a result, New Zealand reached 87/2 in the first 6.5 overs.

The Kiwis swiftly lost Chapman (1) and James Neesham (5), dropping to 97/4 in just 8.3 overs. However, Daryl Mitchell (14 off 14 deliveries) and Mitchell Ham (21 from 16 balls, including two boundaries and a maximum) combined effectively, guiding New Zealand to victory with 11 extra balls remaining and five wickets still available.

The leading wicket-taker for Pakistan was Haris Rauf with figures of 3/20.

Seifert received the 'Player of the Tournament' accolade for his performance. (ANI)