New Zealand Crush Pakistan by 115 Runs to Seal T20I Series in Mount Maunganui
On March 23, 2025, the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui bore witness to a masterclass in T20 cricket as New Zealand delivered a crushing 115-run victory over Pakistan in the fourth T20I of their five-match series. The emphatic win not only handed the Blackcaps an unassailable 3-1 lead but also marked Pakistan’s heaviest defeat by runs in T20I history, eclipsing their previous record of a 95-run loss to the same opponents in Wellington nine years prior. With explosive batting from Finn Allen and Michael Bracewell, followed by a ruthless bowling display led by Jacob Duffy, New Zealand showcased their dominance in all facets of the game, leaving Pakistan reeling and their series hopes extinguished under the floodlights.
The series had been a rollercoaster heading into the fourth match. New Zealand took a commanding 2-0 lead with victories in the first two T20Is, only for Pakistan to roar back in the third game at Auckland’s Eden Park on March 21. Chasing 205, Pakistan cruised to a nine-wicket win, powered by Hasan Nawaz’s unbeaten 105 off 45 balls—a maiden T20I century that kept the visitors alive in the series. That result set the stage for a must-win clash in Mount Maunganui, where Pakistan needed to replicate their batting heroics to force a decider. New Zealand, however, had other plans, eager to rebound from their rare slip-up and seal the series with a game to spare.
The Bay Oval, known for its balanced pitches offering something for both batsmen and bowlers, promised a competitive contest. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bowl, banking on his seamers—led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf—to exploit early conditions and restrict New Zealand’s formidable batting lineup.
New Zealand’s innings got off to a blistering start, with openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen tearing into Pakistan’s attack. Seifert set the tone in the first over, driving a half-volley from Afridi for four and lofting Khushdil Shah for six in the second. The fourth over, bowled by Abrar Ahmed, proved costly as Seifert smashed 6, 4, 6, propelling New Zealand to 50 in just 3.5 overs. His 44 off 22 balls ended in the fifth over, courtesy of a stunning low catch by Khushdil at deep midwicket off Rauf, but not before the hosts reached 79 for 1 in the powerplay—the second-highest powerplay total against Pakistan in T20Is.
Finn Allen took the baton and ran with it, racing to a 20-ball fifty—his second of the series. The 25-year-old bludgeoned six fours and three sixes, dominating Pakistan’s bowlers with a strike rate of 250. His departure in the 10th over, caught off Mohammad Abbas Afridi for 50, came with New Zealand at 134 for 2—already well ahead of the game. A mini-wobble followed, with Mark Chapman (15) and James Neesham (5) falling to Rauf and Abrar respectively, but captain Michael Bracewell ensured the momentum didn’t falter.
Bracewell’s unbeaten 46 off 26 balls was a captain’s knock, blending aggression with composure. Alongside Daryl Mitchell (18), he stitched a 50-run stand in 30 balls, accelerating in the death overs. Bracewell’s late flurry—featuring three fours and two sixes—lifted New Zealand to a formidable 220 for 6. Haris Rauf (3 for 27) was Pakistan’s standout bowler, while Abrar Ahmed (2 for 41) chipped in, but the rest of the attack—including Afridi (0 for 42)—struggled to contain the onslaught. The total, New Zealand’s highest against Pakistan in T20Is, set a daunting challenge on a pitch that had historically favored teams batting first.
Pakistan’s chase began with promise but unraveled spectacularly. Will O’Rourke struck with the second ball, bowling Mohammad Haris (2) with a delivery that jagged back from outside off. Jacob Duffy then took center stage, removing Hasan Nawaz (1)—fresh off his Auckland heroics—and captain Salman Ali Agha (1) in the second over, both caught behind by Mitchell Hay. At 9 for 3 after two overs, Pakistan’s top order was in tatters, their aggressive approach from the previous game replaced by tentative prodding against a moving ball.
The carnage continued as New Zealand’s pacers thrived under floodlights, exploiting swing and bounce. Zakary Foulkes bowled Shadab Khan (7) with a beauty that clipped the stumps, while O’Rourke and Duffy dismantled the middle order. By the 10th over, Pakistan were 56 for 8, staring at their lowest T20I total of 74 (against Australia in 2012). Only Abdul Samad offered resistance, crafting an unbeaten 44 off 30 balls with two fours and three sixes, including a pulled six off Foulkes that brought up Pakistan’s 100. Irfan Khan (24 off 16) provided brief support, but the damage was irreparable.
Ish Sodhi sealed the deal in the 16.2nd over, stumping Mohammad Abbas Afridi (1) to end Pakistan’s misery at 105. Duffy’s 4 for 20 earned him a career-best haul, while Foulkes’ 3 for 25 marked a breakout performance. O’Rourke (2 for 25) and Sodhi (1 for 15) rounded out a clinical effort, with nine wickets falling to seam—an emphatic statement of New Zealand’s bowling depth. Samad’s late flourish avoided complete humiliation, but the 115-run margin underscored Pakistan’s capitulation.
Finn Allen’s Explosive 50: Named Player of the Match, Allen’s 20-ball blitz set the tone, his 72.64 impact points (per ESPNcricinfo’s MVP metrics) reflecting his game-defining contribution.
Jacob Duffy’s 4 for 20: The pacer’s early burst gutted Pakistan’s top order, earning him plaudits for precision and aggression.
Michael Bracewell’s 46: The captain’s unbeaten knock ensured a towering total, proving his worth with bat and leadership.
Pakistan’s Top-Order Meltdown: Losing three wickets for nine runs in the first two overs effectively ended their chase before it began.
Michael Bracewell, beaming with pride, said, “Bouncing back after Eden Park was outstanding. The openers got us ahead, and though we had a whoopsie in the middle, we finished strong. All the seamers bowled brilliantly—Zak Foulkes stepping up was massive.” Salman Ali Agha, dejected, conceded, “They outplayed us. It swung and turned a lot in the second innings, but we’re an international team and need to do better.”
New Zealand’s 115-run win was their second-biggest in T20I history by runs, just four shy of their 119-run thrashing of West Indies at the same venue in 2018. It handed them a 3-1 series lead, rendering the fifth T20I in Wellington on March 26 a dead rubber. For Pakistan, the defeat was a harsh reality check after their Auckland high, exposing frailties in their batting against quality pace bowling. Samad’s lone stand aside, only two batsmen reached double figures—a statistic that will haunt them as they regroup. For now, Mount Maunganui stands as the site of a Kiwi triumph that will echo through the annals of this storied rivalry.
