Pakistan Struggles Again As New Zealand Wins Second T20I

Pakistan's batting struggles continued in the second T20I match against New Zealand held on March 18, 2025, at the University Oval, Dunedin. The match faced delays due to rain, which resulted in it being reduced to 15 overs per side. After suffering a demoralizing bow-out for just 91 runs in the first T20I, expectations were low for Pakistan, who rated their chances slim against the formidable Kiwis.

New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first, hoping to take advantage of the damp conditions. Their fast bowler Jacob Duffy started the game with fireworks, claiming the wicket of Hasan Nawaz for a duck during the very first over.

Mohammad Haris, Pakistan's wicketkeeper and opener, stepped up next, but his performance mirrored his teammate, as he only managed to score 11 runs off just 10 balls. Haris attempted to accelerate the innings by targeting the boundary but fell victim to Ben Sears, who bowled him cleanly after enticing him to play one shot too many. This dismissal left Pakistan reeling at 52 for 3 after just 7 overs, as the pressure mounted with early wickets falling.

Captain Agha Salman, leading the charge for Pakistan, counter-attacked by pushing the score. The young captain showcased resilience, scoring 46 runs with remarkable flair, displaying control and poise under pressure. Shadab Khan supported well by contributing 26 runs. Shaheen Afridi's late blitz, which included 22 runs, provided some momentum as Pakistan managed to post 135 runs, ending their innings with several key players faltering along the way.

Pakistan’s struggle with batting consistency has become the hallmark of their series with New Zealand. Their struggle has been difficult to watch, particularly as they faced the ninth-wicket defeat dropped by their rivals in the last match, and this performance similarly failed to boost morale. The out-of-form players like Abdul Samad and Khushdil Shah added to the woes, contributing only 11 and 2 runs, respectively, before returning to the dugout.

New Zealand, aware of their momentum from previous matches, looked confident as they entered the second half of the game. Their bowlers executed well, led by Duffy, who stood out with two wickets for 20 runs, showcasing his abilities as he exploited the conditions expertly. The other Kiwi bowlers, including Sears, James Neesham, and Ish Sodhi, each claimed two wickets, consolidifying their efforts to restrict Pakistan's scoring.

While Pakistan displayed glimpses of brilliance through Agha Salman and contributions from their experienced players, the overall execution failed to match their potential. They rest on the precarious edge of hope as they prepare for the next match, needing to turn their performance around to remain competitive in the five-match T20I series.

The series is now led by New Zealand, who, after this encounter, will take the knowledge of early wickets and effective bowling strategies to their next game. Meanwhile, Pakistan must regroup and strategize to hone their batting skills and overcome their visible slump.

Fans, anticipating the next match, can hope to see the Men in Green bounce back, capitalizing on the substantial talent evident but unfulfilled during this contest. Only time will tell how the team will respond as they strive to learn from their mistakes and convert valuable lessons from each match.