Match Overview
The fifth and final T20 International of the Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2024/25 series witnessed a spectacular display of power-hitting as the New Zealand national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard reflected a one-sided affair at the Sky Stadium in Wellington. Played on March 26, 2025, this match served as the decider for a series that New Zealand had already secured with a 3-1 lead.
Pakistan, having won the toss, elected to bat first on a pitch that offered some early assistance to the seamers but was generally good for batting. However, the Pakistani top order failed to capitalize on the conditions, struggling against the disciplined New Zealand bowling attack led by Trent Boult and Ish Sodhi. They were restricted to a modest total of 128/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, New Zealand’s chase was nothing short of brutal. Opening batter Tim Seifert produced a match-winning knock, dismantling the Pakistani bowling lineup with aggressive intent. Supported by Finn Allen, the Kiwis reached the target in just 10 overs, securing an emphatic 8-wicket victory. This win completed a comprehensive 4-1 series triumph for New Zealand. Tim Seifert was deservedly named the Player of the Match for his explosive innings that turned a competitive total into a mere formality.
Pakistan Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | c Seifert b Boult | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | lbw b Santner | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 72.72 |
| Fakhar Zaman | c Conway b Ferguson | 22 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 115.78 |
| Shadab Khan | c Phillips b Sodhi | 15 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 107.14 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | run out (Allen) | 18 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 112.50 |
| Azam Khan | c Latham b Ferguson | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Imad Wasim | not out | 21 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 116.66 |
| Shaheen Afridi | c Conway b Boult | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Haris Rauf | b Santner | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Naseem Shah | not out | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Usama Mir | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 15 | |||||
| Total | 128/9 | 20.0 |
(Note: Extras include 8 wides and 7 leg byes)
New Zealand Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Boult | 4.0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 5.50 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4.0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4.0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Ish Sodhi | 4.0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 6.50 |
| Glenn Phillips | 2.0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 2.0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 8.00 |
New Zealand Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finn Allen | c Rizwan b Haris Rauf | 18 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Tim Seifert | not out | 97 | 38 | 8 | 9 | 255.26 |
| Devon Conway | c Babar b Shaheen | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Kane Williamson | not out | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 240.00 |
| Daryl Mitchell | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Glenn Phillips | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mitchell Santner | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ish Sodhi | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lockie Ferguson | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Trent Boult | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Adam Milne | did not bat | – | – | – | – | – |
| Extras | 0 | |||||
| Total | 131/2 | 10.0 |
Pakistan Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Afridi | 2.0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 14.00 |
| Haris Rauf | 2.0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 11.00 |
| Naseem Shah | 2.0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 15.50 |
| Shadab Khan | 2.0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Imad Wasim | 1.0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 |
| Usama Mir | 1.0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 |
Key Highlights & Match Analysis
The New Zealand national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard tells the story of a game defined by one man’s brilliance. While the bowling contest was evenly poised in the first half, the second half belonged entirely to Tim Seifert.
Top Batting Performance: Tim Seifert’s 97 off 38 balls was a masterclass in T20 batting. He struck 8 fours and 9 sixes, maintaining a strike rate of over 255. His ability to pick the length early and clear the boundaries consistently put immense pressure on the Pakistani bowlers. Finn Allen provided the perfect foil at the other end, scoring a quickfire 18 before falling, ensuring the momentum never dipped.
Top Bowling Performance: For Pakistan, the bowling unit struggled to find rhythm on a flat deck. Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi were expensive, conceding runs at over 14 runs per over. For New Zealand, Trent Boult was the pick of the bowlers, using his swing effectively in the powerplay to dismiss the dangerous Babar Azam and later cleaning up the tail. Mitchell Santner’s economical spell in the middle overs choked the Pakistani scoring rate, forcing them into risky shots.
Turning Point of the Match: The turning point came in the 4th over of the New Zealand innings. After losing Devon Conway early, the equation was still manageable but required caution. However, Seifert decided to accelerate immediately, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Usama Mir. This shift in aggression signaled that New Zealand was not just chasing the total but aiming to break the record books. The Pakistani field placements became reactive rather than proactive, allowing Seifert to dominate the straight and mid-wicket regions.
Records and Milestones: This victory marked New Zealand’s biggest win by wickets in a T20I chase against Pakistan. Additionally, Tim Seifert’s innings was the second-fastest fifty by a New Zealander against Pakistan in T20Is. The series win also cemented New Zealand’s position as the top-ranked T20 side in the ICC rankings leading into the 2026 World Cup preparations.
Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
| Format | Matches | New Zealand Wins | Pakistan Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 32 | 18 | 13 | 1 |
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the New Zealand vs Pakistan 5th T20I? A: New Zealand won the match by 8 wickets, chasing down Pakistan’s total of 128 in just 10 overs.
Q: Who was the Player of the Match? A: Tim Seifert was awarded the Player of the Match for his explosive innings of 97 runs off 38 balls.
Q: What was the final result of the series? A: New Zealand won the 5-match T20I series 4-1 against Pakistan.
Q: When and where was this match played? A: The match was played on March 26, 2025, at the Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.
Q: What is the current head-to-head record between these teams in T20Is? A: As of this series, New Zealand leads the head-to-head T20I record with 18 wins compared to Pakistan’s 13 wins.
Conclusion
The New Zealand national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard from Wellington highlights a dominant performance by the hosts. With Tim Seifert’s historic knock and a disciplined bowling effort, New Zealand closed out the series in style. This victory serves as a strong confidence booster for the Kiwis as they look ahead to future global tournaments. Pakistan, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their middle-order batting frailties before their next major assignment. Fans can expect more high-voltage clashes when these two sides meet again in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy cycle.
