The final game of the five-match T20I series between New Zealand (NZ) and Pakistan (PAK) is set to be played at Sky Stadium, Wellington on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The series has already been secured by New Zealand with a 3-1 lead, but both teams will be eager to finish strong before the upcoming ODI series starting on March 29.
Pakistan bounced back in the third T20I with a dominant nine-wicket victory, successfully chasing 205. However, the fourth T20I saw them suffer a heavy 115-run defeat, sealing the series for New Zealand.
Despite the series being decided, another high-scoring contest is expected, given the batting-friendly conditions at the venue.
Match Details
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Match: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 5th T20I, Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2025
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Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
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Date & Time: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 11:45 AM (IST)
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Live Streaming & Broadcast: Sony Sports Network, FanCode (app & website)
Teams Overview
New Zealand (NZ) 🇳🇿
New Zealand have dominated the series and will look to finish on a high. With Finn Allen and Mark Chapman in excellent form and the bowlers stepping up at crucial moments, the hosts have the edge. Michael Bracewell has led the side well, and young pacer Zakary Foulkes has been a revelation.
Pakistan (PAK) 🇵🇰
Pakistan showed glimpses of brilliance but have struggled with consistency. Salman Ali Agha, leading the side, will be desperate to end the series with a win. The return of Shaheen Afridi and the emergence of Mohammad Haris as an explosive batter provide hope, but they need a collective effort to trouble the Kiwis.
Key Players to Watch
New Zealand
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Mark Chapman – Explosive middle-order batter, played a stunning 94-run innings earlier in the series.
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Finn Allen – Aggressive opener capable of providing flying starts.
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Zakary Foulkes – The rising all-rounder has been impressive, picking up two three-fers in the series.
Pakistan
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Mohammad Haris – Quickfire opener, key to Pakistan’s aggressive starts.
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Salman Ali Agha – The captain needs to lead from the front with the bat.
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Shaheen Shah Afridi – Pakistan’s best pacer, can be lethal with the new ball.
Head-to-Head Record
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Total Matches: 48
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New Zealand Wins: 26
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Pakistan Wins: 20
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Tied: 0
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No Result: 2
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First-Ever Fixture: September 22, 2007
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Most Recent Fixture: March 23, 2025
Probable Playing XIs
New Zealand:
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Tim Seifert
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Finn Allen
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Mark Chapman
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Daryl Mitchell
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Jimmy Neesham
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Mitch Hay (wk)
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Michael Bracewell (c)
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Zakary Foulkes
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Ish Sodhi
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Jacob Duffy
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Will O’Rourke
Pakistan:
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Mohammad Haris (wk)
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Hassan Nawaz
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Salman Ali Agha (c)
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Irfan Khan / Usman Khan
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Shadab Khan
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Khushdil Shah
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Abdul Samad
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Shaheen Shah Afridi / Mohammad Ali
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Haris Rauf
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Abbas Afridi
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Abrar Ahmed
Pitch Report – Sky Stadium, Wellington
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The pitch is expected to be batting-friendly, allowing big scores.
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The last T20I here, between New Zealand and Australia in 2024, saw a high-scoring 431-run contest.
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Pacers might get some assistance early on, but spinners could struggle.
Expected Score Range: 180-210
Probable Scenarios & Match Prediction
Scenario 1: New Zealand win the toss and bowl first
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Powerplay Score (PAK): 45-55
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Final Score (PAK): 160-180
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New Zealand win the match
Scenario 2: Pakistan win the toss and bowl first
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Powerplay Score (NZ): 45-50
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Final Score (NZ): 195-215
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New Zealand win the match
Match Prediction: 🇳🇿 New Zealand to win
New Zealand have dominated the series and hold the momentum. Their batting firepower and depth in bowling give them a strong chance of winning the final T20I. However, Pakistan could pull off an upset if their top order fires.
