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A Crushing Victory Seals the Series
Hay Sears lead NZ series win in style, as New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 84 runs to claim a 2-0 series victory. Mitchell Hay’s unbeaten 99 and Ben Sears’ fiery five-wicket haul proved too much for Pakistan, who crumbled under pressure once again.
Yes, Hay Sears lead NZ series win, turning the second ODI into a dominant performance that highlighted both top-order resilience and lethal pace bowling.
Hay Anchors, Sears Strikes
Batting first in Hamilton, New Zealand posted 292 for 8, thanks largely to Hay’s calm and calculated innings. He narrowly missed a century but gave the hosts momentum, especially in the last ten overs, where he took apart Pakistan’s bowling.
Pakistan’s chase never got going. Within 12 overs, they had lost half their side for just 32. Sears was unstoppable, finishing with 5 for 59, and Pakistan’s hopes were dashed before the innings could build.
First Innings Breakdown
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Mitchell Hay: 99*
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Muhammad Abbas: 41 (supportive role)
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Sufiyan Muqeem: 2-33 (Pakistan’s standout bowler)
New Zealand lost momentum mid-innings but bounced back with Hay’s late acceleration, including 49 runs off Wasim’s final 3 overs.
| Top NZ Contributors | Impact |
|---|---|
| Mitchell Hay | Anchored the innings |
| Ben Sears | 5 wickets, tore top order |
| Nathan Smith | Tight support in middle |
Pakistan Collapse Again
Despite a green pitch and winning the toss, Pakistan’s seamers were wayward early on, gifting easy runs. With the bat, they were even worse. The top order folded—Babar, Rizwan, Imam, and Shafique all fell cheaply, many edging behind or to slips.
Only Faheem Ashraf (73) and Naseem Shah (52) showed fight, with Naseem coming in as a concussion sub for Haris Rauf. But it was too little, too late. New Zealand’s bowlers were fast, accurate, and relentless.
Match Summary
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New Zealand: 292/8 (Hay 99*)
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Pakistan: 208 all out (Ashraf 73, Sears 5/59)
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Result: NZ won by 84 runs
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Series: New Zealand wins 2-0
Pakistan’s fielding and fitness came under scrutiny again. Rauf had to retire hurt after a blow to the helmet, and Javed also took a hit. The tail wagged briefly but couldn’t hide the gulf in quality between the teams.
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