First T20 between Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team and New Zealand Men’s Cricket Team have just finished in Auckland with New Zealand winning the match by 46 runs and leading the 5 series by 1-0.
New Zealand was asked to bat first as Pakistan has won the toss and choose to ball first. Fin Allen started really well despite of the wicket of Devon Conway in Shaheen’s first over. Daryll Mitchell score 61 off 27 balls and was the highest run scorer for New Zealand. Abbas Afridi on his debut took 3 wickets with the economy of 8.5. Pakistan’s skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi took 3 wickets and went for 46 runs. While Speed Gun, Haris Rauf, took two wickets in his last over and finish with the economy of 8.5. As a result New Zealand made a total of 226 that is also a second highest total at Eden Garden in T20Is. Pakistan were given a target of 227.
Pakistan started really well. Saim Ayub and Muhammad Rizwan was sent as an opening partners. Saim made 27 off 8 balls with 3 sixes and 2 fours until he was run out by a direct hit by Adam Milne. Muhammad Rizwan made 25 off 14 balls. Babar Azam was the highest run scorer for Pakistan scoring 57 off 35 balls. But Pakistan’s wickets fell very early and they were all out on 180. Tim southee took 4 wickets with the economy of 6.25 and made a record of 150 T20Is wickets. Adam Milne and Ben Sears took 2 wickets each while Ish Sodhi also got a wicket.
The Main difference between the two innings was the fielding efforts. New Zealand were too good in the field while Pakistan drop too many catches and poor throws. New Zealand were also very quick in running between the wickets. Overall, it was a great game of Cricket. Both the teams are preparing for the T20 World Cup 2024 in June/July.
That was an enthralling series opener with batters having feast out there. Tim Southee showed the recipe for success on this pitch; he bowled his slower ones with unerring accuracy and picked up a match-winning four-fer. Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals and the equation became tougher with each passing over. The two sides now move to Hamilton for the second T20 on Sunday.
