Babar Azam’s 57 goes in vain as Green Shirts fail to chase the 227-run target
AUCKLAND
New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 46 runs in the first match of the series of 5 T20 matches against Pakistan.
Batting first, New Zealand scored 226 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs and gave the Green Shirts a target of 227 runs to win the match, which Pakistan failed to achieve.
The Kiwis took a 0-1 lead in the series.
New Zealand bowled well with Tim Southee taking 4, Adam Millen and Ben Sears 2, 2 while Ash Sodhi dismissed one player.
Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand was adjudged Man of the Match for his excellent batting.
Saeem Ayub and Muhammad Rizwan started the innings on behalf of Pakistan, but Saeem Ayub was run out after scoring 27 runs in 8 balls with the help of 3 sixes and 2 fours. Muhammad Rizwan also scored 25 runs and Tim Southee was caught off the ball while Fakhar Zaman scored 15 runs. Iftikhar Ahmed was dismissed for 24 runs while Azam Khan played an innings of 10 runs. Babar Azam completed his half-century with the help of 2 sixes and 3 fours and was dismissed for 57 runs off 35 balls. Shaheen Afridi was dismissed for a score while Usama Mir and Abbas Afridi scored one run each, Amir Jamal. He remained not out after scoring 14 runs.
Earlier in the match being played in Auckland, Pakistan cricket team captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and decided to field first. Finn Allen and David Conway from New Zealand started the innings but Shaheen Afridi on the second ball. David Conway was caught out, but Shaheen Afridi gave 24 runs in the third over of the innings. Alan became a victim of Abbas Afridi?
Several easy catches were dropped and misfielding by the Pakistan fielders, which the Kiwi batsmen took full advantage of and New Zealand’s third wicket fell for 128 when Kane Williamson was dismissed for 57, in his innings. 9 fours were included.
New Zealand’s fourth wicket of Glenn Phillips when he was caught out by Babar Azam for just 19 runs off Abbas Afridi, after which Daryl Mitchell on the pitch scored 61 runs and returned to the pavilion off Shaheen Afridi, he played a brilliant innings of 61 runs off 27 balls.
After which New Zealand’s Mark Champan made 26, Adam Mullen made 10, Mark Champan was dismissed for just 6 runs while Ash Sodhi and Matt Henry returned to the pavilion for zero.
Pakistan’s captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said that the pitch is suitable for bowling, so bowling first is preferred, efforts will be made to restrict New Zealand to minimum runs.
Osama Mir and Abbas Afridi are making their T20 debut for Pakistan, Pakistan’s spin bowling coach Saeed Ajmal and fast bowling coach Umar Gul gave the debut caps to both the players.
