NZ tame Pakistan in 5th T20I, win series 4-1: Stats
What's the story
New Zealand tamed hapless Pakistan in the 5th and final T20I of the 5-match series on Wednesday.
The match played at Sky Stadium in Wellington, saw the visitors get restricted to 128/9.
James Neesham took a fifer whereas Salman Agha posted a fighting fifty.
In response, Tim Seifert's whirlwind knock helped the hosts complete run-chase in no time.
NZ won the series 4-1.
PAK summary
Only saving grace for Pakistan
Salman came in when his side was reeling at 23/2 after 4.5 overs. The team failed to get any sort of momentum, being reduced to 52/5.
It was the fighting 54-run stand between Salman and Shadab Khan (28) that was a positive aspect for Pakistan.
Salman's fifty ensured Pakistan got past 120 runs. Neesham (5/22) dismissed Salman in the 19th over.
Salman
Salman hits his 2nd T20I fifty
Salman's 51 from 39 balls had six fours and a six. He struck at 130.77.
As per ESPNcricinfo, Salman owns 217 runs from 10 innings in T20Is at 24.11. His strike rate is 116.66. This was his 2nd fifty.
In the just concluded 5-match T20I series, Salman finished with 167 runs at 41.75 (SR: 135.77). Both of his fifties came in this series.
Neesham
Neesham enters record books with T20I fifer against Pakistan
Neesham, who took 5/22 from his 4 overs, became just the 2nd New Zealand bowler to take a fifer against Pakistan in T20Is.
He joined Tim Southee, who claimed 5/18 in 2010, Auckland.
Neesham is also the 3rd bowler in New Zealand-Pakistan T20Is to take a fifer after Southee and Umar Gul (5/6 vs NZ, The Oval, 2009).
Do you know?
4th New Zealand bowler with a fifer in T20Is
Neesham became the 4th New Zealand bowler with a fifer in T20Is. He joins Southee (twice), Lockie Ferguson, and Adam Milne (one each) with fifers in T20Is.
Stats
Maiden T20 fifer for Neesham
Neesham claimed his maiden fifer in T20 cricket. Playing his 294th match (246 innings), he has raced to 238 wickets at 25.29.
Apart from his fifer, he owns three four-fers.
Notably, 47 of his 238 T20 wickets have come for New Zealand in T20Is. He averages 24.44 from 83 matches (57 innings) with his economy rate being 8.94.
Information
Summary of the other NZ bowlers
Pacer Jacob Duffy took 2/18 from his 4 overs. Ben Sears impressed with figures worth 1/25. Spinner Ish Sodhi managed 1/32 whereas William ORourke went wicketless with 0/29 from his 4 overs.
Chase
NZ get the job done in 10 overs
New Zealand aced the run-chase, getting things wrapped up in 10 overs. They scored 132/2 to win by 8 wickets.
Seifert's 97* from 38 balls led NZ's show with the bat. He hammered 10 sixes and six fours, striking at 255.26.
Finn Allen scored 27 from 12 balls. The two players added 93 runs for the first wicket.
Sufiyan Muqeem (2/6) was Pakistan wicket-taker.
Seifert
Seifert surpasses 1,500 runs in T20Is
Seifert, who missed out on a ton by three runs, was adjudged Player of the Series.
His scores in this series read 44, 45, 19, 44, and 97*.
His unbeaten 97 takes him to 1,540 runs in T20Is at 28. This was his 10th fifty and also his highest score.
He has raced to 80 sixes in T20Is.