Neesham, Seifert propel NZ to 4-1 series win against Pakistan

New Zealand 131 for 2 (Seifert 97*) beat Pakistan128 for 9 (Agha 51, Neesham 5-22) by eight wicket

New Zealand signed off the series as they started it: with an absolute hammering of Pakistan. Tim Seifert, who smashed an unbeaten 97 off 38, ensured New Zealand needed just ten overs to get to Pakistan's limp 128 after five wickets for Jimmy Neesham hobbled Pakistan in the first innings.

New Zealand called correctly at the toss and barely put a foot wrong after. Will O'Rourke and Jacob Duffy were both tight and penetrating up front as New Zealand took three wickets in the powerplay. It included Hassan Nawaz for his third duck of the series who sandwiched his century at Eden Park with just one run across the other four games. Neesham's first wicket of five reduced Pakistan to 52 for 5 around the halfway mark as Pakistan's top order scattered around their captain Salman Agha.

Agha and Shadab Khan provided the only resistance with the bat for Pakistan with a brief, entertaining cameo. Neither are natural power hitters, but both were effective in their manipulation of the bowlers and the field as Pakistan picked up the pace in a 54-run stand in 35 balls.

But when Shadab briefly lost his cool after being deprived of a free hit he thought he deserved for a high full toss the previous ball, he nicked the next one to the keeper. He walked away incandescent, and the remainder of Pakistan's innings folded tamely even as Agha brought up his second half-century in three games. Neesham was ruthless in wrapping the tail up as the final four overs yielded four wickets for 22 runs, and a target of 129.

New Zealand's innings began with 18 runs off Jahandad Khan's first over, and barely looked back. Finn Allen and Seifert were raining boundaries no matter which fast bowler Agha turned to; five of the first six overs produced double-digit runs, and when Pakistan turned back to Jahandad to close out the powerplay, the assault was unforgiving. Three sixes and a four from Seifert saw 25 runs come off it as New Zealand surged to 92 in the powerplay - their highest six-over score in T20I history.

Sufiyan Muqeem - in hindsight brought in a touch late, provided some measure of relief for Pakistan, got rid of Allen with his second delivery with a bit of flight and variation of pace. He followed it up by deceiving Mark Chapman with a quicker one that Mohammad Haris was sharp to collect and whip the bails off, his two overs conceding just six runs for their two wickets.

However, that did not mean all spin was working for Pakistan, as Shadab's concluding over made painfully clear. Four sixes in six balls, and three consecutive ones to sign off the game, put Pakistan out of their misery, his 26-run over finishing off a contest so one-sided it had become borderline uncomfortable to watch.

New Zealand will take heart from their strength in depth, while Pakistan are left to wonder if there are further depths to sink to.

Source: ESPNcricinfo