WELLINGTON, New Zealand — In a sensational display, Jimmy Neesham’s five-wicket haul of 5-22 and Tim Seifert’s explosive batting, scoring 97 runs off just 38 balls, propelled New Zealand to a dominant eight-wicket triumph over Pakistan with 10 overs remaining in the final Twenty20 international on Wednesday. Consequently, New Zealand claimed an impressive 4-1 victory in the series.
Neesham joined the elite group of New Zealand bowlers, including Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne, to have taken five wickets in a single T20 international. Capitalizing on the toss advantage, the Blackcaps effectively restricted Pakistan to a mere 128-9.
Seifert and Finn Allen initiated New Zealand’s pursuit at an electrifying pace, racing to 45 without loss in the first three overs, reaching 50 within just 22 deliveries, and an astounding 82-0 by the end of the power play’s six overs.
While Allen mostly observed from the non-striker’s end, Seifert powered to his tenth T20 half-century in a quick-fire 23 balls, striking five sixes and five fours. The formidable opening partnership yielded 93 runs in just 6.2 overs before Allen departed after scoring 27 from 12 balls.
Continuing with relentless aggression, Seifert clubbed 10 sixes and six fours, bringing the match to a swift conclusion in the 10th over with four consecutive sixes.
“After nearly getting hit on the head by the first delivery, I decided there was only one approach,” Seifert remarked post-match. “I’m proud that I played in a manner true to myself throughout the series. The bouncy wickets perfectly facilitated my style of play.”
On the contrary, Pakistan struggled significantly, limping to 27-3 after their power play and 52-4 midway through their innings, unable to cope with the New Zealand bowlers’ bounce-induced delivery.
Opening batsman Hasan Nawaz departed without scoring, a continuation of his lackluster international debut series that now reads 0, 0, 105 not out, 1, and 0 in his five T20s.
Captain Salman Ali Agha provided some resistance with 51 off 39 balls, forging a valuable 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Shadab Khan, who made 28 from 20 balls.
Shadab’s dismissal was mired in controversy. Neesham bowled a wayward delivery, initially called as four wides by the umpire, but upon replays, Shadab and observers argued it should have been a no-ball since it missed the pitch entirely.
The following legal delivery saw Shadab dismissed, a pivotal event since a no-ball call would have resulted in a free hit, preventing his dismissal.