T20: New Zealand beat Pakistan again to take 2-0 series lead

New Zealand lead 2-0 against Pakistan in their five-match T20I series after winning Tuesday’s clash in Dunedin by five wickets.

As they did in the first match of the series, Pakistan batted first and struggled to make headway against the Kiwi bowling.

While the visitors improved on their total of 91 from Sunday’s loss in Christchurch, they still lost nine wickets and were restricted 135 runs from their 15 overs in the rain-affected match.

It was a team effort from New Zealand with the ball as Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, James Neesham and Ish Sodhi each claimed two wickets.

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The shining light for Pakistan was captain Salman Agha, who struck a blistering 46 runs from 28 balls after opener Hasan Nawaz fell for a duck in the first over.

He was briefly kept company by Mohammad Haris (11) and Irfan Khan (11), but regular wickets meant that by the time Agha fell, his side were floundering at 5/76 in the 10th over.

A short renaissance came as Shadab Khan plundered 26 runs off just 14 balls to take Pakistan to 5/110.

The comeback was short-lived, however, and cricket betting odds quickly swung in New Zealand’s favour as five wickets fell for 25 runs to stymie any momentum.

Set a target of 136 to win, the Black Caps went about their work briskly through openers Tim Seifert (45 off 22) and Finn Allen (38 off 16).

By the time both were back in the sheds in the seventh over, New Zealand needed just 49 runs with ample balls remaining.

There was a little bit of a mid-innings wobble as Mark Chapman (1), Daryl Mitchell (14) and Neesham (5) fell in the space of two overs, but Mitchell Hay (21) and captain Michael Bracewell (5) carried their side over the line with 11 balls and five wickets to spare.

“The bowling was extraordinary, first of all,” Bracewell said after the match.

“The guys bowling into the wind today bowled particularly well and kept them to a score which we’re pretty happy with. 

“We’ve been playing some really good cricket so far, so we just want to continue what we’re doing. 

“We’re pretty happy with where things are at, like the guys are hitting the ball nicely and bowling really well, so we just want to continue that.”

Heading into the third T20I in Auckland on Friday, top bookmakers have New Zealand as heavy favourites to seal the series victory.

BetOnline has the Kiwis at $1.25 to win, while Pakistan are at long odds of $4 to claim their first victory of the series.

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