MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand — In an emphatic display, New Zealand’s bowlers Jacob Duffy and Zakary Foulkes spearheaded a dominant performance against Pakistan, sealing a 115-run win in the fourth Twenty20 match and securing the series victory with one game left to play.
Duffy emerged with figures of 4-20, while Foulkes took 3-25, as the New Zealand pacers exploited the favorable conditions under the floodlights at Bay Oval. This led to Pakistan being dismissed for a mere 105 in just 16.2 overs.
At one point, Pakistan teetered at 56-8, nervously close to falling below their lowest-ever T20 international score of 74 against Australia back in 2012. However, Abdul Samad provided some resistance with an unbeaten 44, helping his team surpass that mark and their lowest score against New Zealand.
Earlier in the match, New Zealand set a formidable target by posting 220-6 after being put in to bat. Finn Allen smashed a rapid half-century off just 19 balls, while captain Michael Bracewell contributed an unbeaten 46.
Tim Seifert also played a crucial role, scoring 44 off 22 deliveries, in a fiery opening stand with Allen that added 59 runs in just over four overs. New Zealand boasted their highest power play total against Pakistan, reaching 79-1 after six overs.
Allen was aggressive with the bat, connecting six fours and three sixes, setting a brisk pace for New Zealand, who were at 134-2 midway through their innings. Haris Rauf tried to stem the flow with figures of 3-27, but Bracewell ensured a strong finish.
Reflecting on the game, Allen, who was named Player of the Match, expressed his admiration for Seifert’s explosive start: “With Tim (Seifert) belting them, it makes it tough to get some rhythm sometimes. It’s nice for me to sit at the other end and watch him go and then try to take over when he goes.”
Pakistan’s run chase stumbled quickly with the loss of three wickets in the first two overs, including the departure of third match century-maker Hasan Nawaz for just 1. Devastating spells by O’Rourke and Duffy upset any hopes of recovery.
O’Rourke delivered a sharply cutting ball to bowl Mohammad Haris (2) in the second ball of Pakistan’s innings. Duffy capitalized on this start by removing Nawaz and captain Salman Ali Agha, both caught by wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay.
Under the night lights, the New Zealand pacers skillfully manipulated the ball’s movement under conditions that once seemed benign. Even leg spinner Ish Sodhi found opportunities to sharply turn the ball.
Acknowledging New Zealand’s commendable performance, Ali Agha stated, “We have to give them credit, they bowled really well and they outplayed us. It was swinging and turning as well. It did a lot in the second innings but we are an international team and we have to do better.”
The series is set to conclude with the final match in Wellington on Wednesday.
