Sunday 30 / March / 2025
Wellington: With Tim Siefert's unbeaten 50 and James Neesham's five-wicket haul hosts New Zealand stormed to victory over Pakistan in the fifth and final T20I of the series at the Sky Stadium held in Wellington on Wednesday.
Pakistan's skipper Salman Ali Agha acknowledged New Zealand's dominance throughout the series but highlighted positives like Hasan and Haris' batting in Auckland and Sufiyan's bowling performance. He emphasizes the focus on the Asia Cup and World Cup, and while disappointed with the series loss, believes the ODI team, with more experience and prior New Zealand exposure, will be a different story.
"They were outstanding. They outplayed us in the whole series. There were plenty of positives though. The way Hasan batted and Haris batted in Auckland. The way Sufiyan bowled today. When we were coming in here, the focus was on the Asia Cup and the World Cup. I did alright. It doesn't matter when you lose the series. Completely different teams in the ODIs. More experience. They have played in NZ before. It will be a different ball game." Salman Agha said as per Cricbuzz.
Sufiyan Muqeem was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan as he took two wickets and gave away just six runs in two overs of his spell. Besides him, all the other Pakistan bowlers got hampered by the Kiwi batters.
With this win, the Blackcaps confirmed their triumph in the five-match series against the Men in Green with a score of 4-1.
Tim Seifert played a blissful inning of 97 runs in just 37 bowls, with ten sixes and six fours, striking at 255, Neesham was the pick of the bowler in the Kiwi innings in his four overs he gave away 22 runs and took five wickets. Neesham received the Player of the Match honour for his five wickets.
Siefert was presented with the Player of the Series accolade for his outstanding batting display over the five matches. Siefert scored 249 runs in five matches with a best of 97 which came in the fifth T-20I.
