Match overview
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 84 runs in the fifth ODI of their 2025 series at Seddon Park, Hamilton on 2 April 2025. Batting first after Pakistan won the toss and chose to field, New Zealand posted 292/8 from 50 overs, a total 64 runs above the ground's average first-innings score of 228. Pakistan's chase never got going. Three wickets fell in the powerplay for just 28 runs, and although the middle overs produced a more competitive 174 runs across 7 wickets, the asking rate had long since moved out of reach. Pakistan were bowled out for 208, and New Zealand completed a series in which they won four of the five matches played. MJ Hay took the Player of the Match award.
The series result continues a pattern that has developed throughout 2025. New Zealand have beaten Pakistan by 43 runs, 73 runs, 8 wickets, and 115 runs in earlier meetings this year, with Pakistan's only response coming at Eden Park, where they won by 9 wickets. The 84-run margin at Seddon Park sits comfortably within that range and reflects New Zealand's consistent advantage across all formats of this matchup.
Over 117 ODI meetings, New Zealand lead the head-to-head 63 wins to 45, with 9 no results. The 2025 series has reinforced that statistical edge, with New Zealand's batting and bowling both performing above what Pakistan have been able to match.
Venue and conditions
Seddon Park in Hamilton has hosted 88 ODIs, and the numbers paint a picture of a ground that moderately favours the side batting first. The average first-innings score of 228 compares to an average second-innings score of 212, a difference modest enough that neither batting first nor chasing is a decisive advantage. Chase success sits at 52%, meaning both outcomes are genuinely competitive. Teams winning the toss elect to field 64% of the time, which reflects a preference for batting last under lights in Hamilton rather than any particular pitch characteristic.
In terms of phase splits, the ground's average powerplay return is 35 runs. New Zealand's 72 powerplay runs were well above that benchmark; Pakistan's 28 were well below. The death overs (overs 41 to 50) typically yield around 29 runs at this venue. New Zealand scored 82 in that phase for 2 wickets, another above-par contribution. Pakistan's death-over return of just 6 runs for 1 wicket reflects a chase that had effectively ended before the final 10 overs began.
How to watch
New Zealand international cricket is available in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Matches from New Zealand's home series are typically broadcast live, with streaming accessible through Sky Go and NOW TV for those without a satellite subscription. UK viewers should note the significant time difference: an afternoon start in Hamilton (approximately 02:00 local) would appear as an early hours or morning kickoff in the UK, so VOD and catch-up options on the Sky Sports app are often the most practical route for highlights and full-match replays.
Recent form
New Zealand come into this result having won four of their last five ODIs, with all five of those matches coming against Pakistan in 2025. The one defeat, by 9 wickets at Eden Park, is the outlier in an otherwise dominant run. Their batting has repeatedly posted competitive totals, and their bowling has been effective enough to dismiss Pakistan for under 250 in four of those five games.
Pakistan's recent record in this series mirrors New Zealand's in reverse: four losses from five ODIs, with the lone win at Eden Park providing limited evidence of a turnaround. Their powerplay batting has been a recurring issue, and the collapse to 28/3 at Seddon Park follows a pattern that has undermined their chase attempts throughout the series. How they address their top-order fragility will be central to any improvement against New Zealand or other Test-playing nations in the coming months.
