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New Zealand defeats Pakistan in T20 Series opener

Pakistan’s innings commenced with Saif Ali and Mohammad Rizwan at the crease.

KARACHI – In the first match of the five-T20 series against Pakistan, New Zealand secured a convincing victory by 46 runs. The match, held in Auckland, showcased an outstanding performance from the Kiwis, overshadowing the efforts of the Pakistani side.

Pakistan’s innings commenced with Saif Ali and Mohammad Rizwan at the crease. Despite a promising start, Saif Ali succumbed after scoring 27 runs off 33 balls, with 3 boundaries and 2 sixes. Mohammad Rizwan contributed 25 runs before getting caught off the South African bowler’s delivery.

Fakhar Zaman added 15 runs, while Azam Khan, making his debut, managed to score 10 runs. Captain Babar Azam played a significant inning, hitting a half-century with 57 runs off 35 balls, featuring 2 sixes and 3 fours.

The middle order faced setbacks as Shadab Khan, Shahid Afridi, and Asif Ali failed to make substantial contributions. Shahid Afridi, in particular, was dismissed without scoring any runs.

Pakistan’s innings concluded at 128 runs for the loss of 9 wickets, with Aamer Jamal remaining not out at 14.

New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Tim Southee, took four wickets, while Adam Milne and Ben Sears claimed two wickets each. Ish Sodhi also contributed with one wicket.

Winning the toss, Pakistani Captain Shadab Khan opted to field first. New Zealand’s innings were marked by a solid partnership between Finn Allen and David Conway. However, Shahid Afridi’s exceptional catch dismissed Conway early in the game, after he had scored 24 runs.

Finn Allen continued to impress, scoring 34 runs off 15 balls before being caught by Abbas Afridi. Glenn Phillips played a crucial role, accumulating 61 runs off 27 balls before falling victim to a catch by Babar Azam.

Mark Chapman (26), Adam Milne (10), and Tim Southee (6) contributed valuable runs towards the end, leading New Zealand to a total of 174/7 in their 20 overs.

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Pakistan’s bowling debutants, Osman Mir and Abbas Afridi, showcased their skills, while Coach Saqlain Mushtaq and Fast Bowling Coach Umar Gul proudly watched their development.

Captain Shahid Afridi expressed satisfaction with the bowling performance, aiming to restrict New Zealand to a minimal score in the upcoming matches. The T20 series promises more action as Pakistan looks to bounce back and level the score in the next encounter.

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