NZ vs PAK 2025, 5th T20I Review: Neesham, Seifert pummel Pakistan to bag series by 4-1 margin

Hosts New Zealand (NZ) finished the five-match T20I series with a thumping eight-wicket win against Pakistan (PAK) at the Sky Stadium in Wellington, on Wednesday, March 26.

Having already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, Michael Bracewell won the toss in the fifth T20I and asked Pakistan to bat first. The tourists lost three wickets inside the powerplay and could only manage 27 runs. In the 11th over, they lost half their side with only 52 runs on the board.

Skipper Salman Ali Agha and deputy Shadab Khan combined to form a much-needed 54-run partnership off 45 balls for the sixth wicket. James Neesham broke the partnership as Shadab departed for a 20-ball 28. Salman was dismissed a couple of overs later as he got out to Neesham for 51 off 39 balls.

In the end, the tourists huffed and puffed their way to 128/9 in their 20 overs. Neesham was the pick of the bowlers for the Blackcaps, finishing with figures of 5/22 in four overs. Jacob Duffy also bowled well, picking up two wickets.

Seifert led charge in New Zealand's run chase

Chasing a paltry total, New Zealand got off to a blazing start as Tim Seifert and Finn Allen slammed a 93-run opening stand off just 39 balls. Allen was dismissed for a 12-ball 27 by Sufiyan Muqeem, while Seifert had already raced to 64 off 27 deliveries. Muqeem also got the better of Mark Chapman in the ninth over. Daryl Mitchell finished proceedings alongside a rampaging Seifert, who remained unbeaten on 97 off just 38 balls. The 30-year-old belted six fours and 10 sixes during his magnificent knock.

All the Pakistani bowlers had economy rates of over 10 except Muqeem, whose two overs yielded two wickets for just six runs. New Zealand raced home with 10 overs and eight wickets to spare. Neesham was adjudged Player of the Match for his career-best T20I figures, while Seifert, who finished the match with a hat-trick of sixes off Shadab's bowling, won the Player of the Series award.