NZ vs PAK 5th T20: New Zealand beat Pakistan by 8 wickets to clinch T20 series 4-1

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NZ vs PAK: New Zealand wrapped up a dominant 4-1 series win over Pakistan with a resounding eight-wicket victory in the fifth and final T20I at Rawalpindi. Chasing a modest target of 129, the visitors made light work of the chase, riding on Tim Seifert's sensational unbeaten 97 off just 38 balls.

After losing the toss, Pakistan endured a disappointing outing with the bat, managing only 128/9 in 20 overs. The innings never gained momentum, with early setbacks setting the tone.

Opener Hasan Nawaz fell for a duck, while Mohammad Haris (11) and Omair Yousuf (7) also departed cheaply. At 25/3, Pakistan was in deep trouble before skipper Salman Agha (51 off 39) and Shadab Khan (28 off 20) stitched together a crucial 54-run partnership.

James Neesham was the standout performer with the ball for New Zealand, dismantling Pakistan's lower order with a five-wicket haul (5/22). Jacob Duffy (2/18) and Ish Sodhi (1/32) also contributed to restricting the hosts.

New Zealand's chase was nothing short of explosive. Finn Allen (27 off 12) set the tone with an aggressive start before falling to Sufiyan Muqeem. However, his dismissal did little to slow down Seifert, who launched a relentless assault on the Pakistan bowlers. He smashed 10 sixes and six boundaries, taking New Zealand past the 50-run mark in just 21 balls.

Even after losing Mark Chapman (3) in the eighth over, Seifert continued his onslaught, ensuring New Zealand reached the target in just 10 overs with a staggering run rate of 13.10. Daryl Mitchell (2*) was at the other end as the Kiwis celebrated a comprehensive win.

Pakistan's Bowling Woes Continue

Pakistan's bowlers had no answers to New Zealand's aggressive approach. Sufiyan Muqeem (2/6) was the only one to find success, while the rest struggled. Jahandad Khan (0/43), Mohammad Ali (0/27), and Haris Rauf (0/22) were taken apart by Seifert's carnage.

With this emphatic win, New Zealand capped off a dominant series performance, exposing Pakistan's struggles in both batting and bowling. Seifert's whirlwind knock was the highlight, ensuring the Kiwis ended the series on a high note.