An excellent knock from Finn Allen and four wickets for Adam Milne have helped the Black Caps secure a 21-run win and a 2-0 series lead over Pakistan in Hamilton this evening.
Allen smashed 11 boundaries on his way to 74, leading New Zealand to a very competitive 194/8 from their 20 overs.
Pakistan were well on track in their run chase, before Milne provided the crucial breakthrough and ran through the tail to take the visitors out of the game.
The Black Caps were sent into bat for the second straight game and got off to a great start thanks to Allen, who backed up his hot start at Eden Park on Friday. This time however, Allen kicked on, bringing up his fourth T20 international fifty.
He and opening partner Devon Conway combined nicely at the top of the order, putting on 59 for the first wicket in just five overs.
Conway fell off Aamer Jamal’s first ball, a leading edge going straight up in the air and safely taken at cover by Fakhar Zaman.
Allen was joined by Williamson, and together they continued to demolish Pakistan’s bowlers, racing past 100 inside 10 overs.
But Williamson was forced to retire hurt after suffering a hamstring strain. The Black Caps captain had been playing nicely, scoring 26 from 15 deliveries, but left the field gingerly at the drinks break at the end of the 10th over.
That was a momentum shifter, as Pakistan began to limit the scoring and drag themselves back into the game.
Allen was looking likely to go on and score his second T20 international hundred, but was deceived by a Usama Mir googly and bowled trying to launch his sixth six of the evening, departing for 74.
He was quickly joined back in the dugout by Daryl Mitchell, who was unfortunate to chop the ball onto the stumps for 17, having looked in top form once again.
Mitchell Santner provided some lower-order hitting as wickets fell around him, before being run out in the final over for 25.
Defending 194, New Zealand started well with the ball, with Tim Southee getting the dangerous Saim Ayub holing out to deep square leg in the first over, and Adam Milne picked up Mohammad Rizwan four balls later to have Pakistan reeling at 10/2.
But they were made to rue some missed chances, as Ben Sears dropped Fakhar Zaman on 0 and Mark Chapman dropped Babar Azam on 27.
Zaman made the most of his second chance, blasting five sixes and three fours on his way to a 23-ball half century. New Zealand were able to breathe a sigh of relief when he chopped Milne onto the stumps two balls later, after what had been a devastating partnership.
It was a crucial moment, as Pakistan began to lose regular wickets, mounting pressure on Azam in much the same vein as the first game two nights ago.
While Azam valiantly played a lone hand to keep the run chase alive, it was too much to ask, with the former Pakistan skipper falling to Sears for 66.
Milne ran through the lower order to finish with excellent figures of 4-33, while Southee picked up the final wicket to wrap up the game.
Allen was named man of the match, and said his innings was a result of what he had been working on behind the scenes.
"I think it’s positive for me. The work I’ve been trying to do, being adaptable and move through the gears in my game, it’s pleasing to see it’s come through a little bit today."
Stand-in captain Southee said the platform the top order laid was excellent, while he also heaped praise on his bowlers.
"Milney was outstanding, Searsy is a young guy showing a lot of character at this level and I think Ish Sodhi shouldn’t be overlooked in his efforts, going for 20 off his first over then coming back and taking two crucial wickets."
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi rued his side's poor start with the ball, and believed that was where the game was won.
"Bowling first with a little bit of swing you want early wickets, unfortunately we missed that period. I think if we took one or two [early] wickets their score would’ve been 170 or 180. We struggled the first 10 overs but Haris and Abbas the way they bowled was really good, and Usama Mir, I think he bowled really well."
The Black Caps now hold a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 series.
Black Caps 194/8 Allen 74 (41), Williamson 26 (15), Santner 25 (13). Rauf 3-38 (4), Abbas 2-43 (4).
Pakistan 173 all out Azam 66 (43), Zaman 50 (25). Milne 4-33 (4), Sears 2-28 (4).
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