New Zealand beat Pakistan by 9 wickets in second T20I

Gulf Today Report

Opener Tim Seifert carried his bat for 84 in an unbroken 129-run partnership with Kane Williamson to steer New Zealand to a nine-wicket win over Pakistan in the second Twenty20 international on Sunday and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Williamson finished 57 not out in his return to the short format as New Zealand overtook Pakistan’s total of 163-6 with four balls to spare.

New Zealandís Ish Sodhi (right) reacts after bowling to Pakistan's batsman Mohammad Hafeez in Hamilton. AFP

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat in the second Twenty20 against New Zealand in Hamilton on Sunday.

Mohammed Hafeez was left stranded on 99 as Pakistan set New Zealand a 164-run target in the second Twenty20 international at Seddon Park.

Hafeez was out first ball when New Zealand won the opening match on Friday by five wickets, but was the only batsman to find form two days later.

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In a stay of 57 balls, he peppered the boundary with 10 fours and five sixes as Pakistan reached 163 for six in their 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Pakistan's batsman Mohammad Hafeez (right) celebrates his half century in Hamilton on Sunday. AFP

Mohammad Rizwan (22) was the only other batsman to pass the 20 mark.

For New Zealand, Tim Southee took four for 21

"It looks to be a very good pitch and we want to get a good score on the board," said stand-in captain Shadab Khan.

Khan also won the toss and opted to bat in the first match only to lose by five wickets at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.

With the injured Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman still not available, the pressure is on Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Hafeez to get runs in Hamilton.

"We were rusty in the last game but hopefully we will do better here," Khan said with Pakistan keeping the same line up.

New Zealand have made four changes, with Kane Williamson returning from paternity leave to lead the side and with Test bowlers Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson being added.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert, Kane Williamson(capt), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan (capt), Khushdil Shah, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.

Umpires: Chris Brown (NZL), Shaun Haig (NZL).

TV umpire: Wayne Knights (NZL)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)