New Zealand beat Pakistan to take 1 0 series lead after run fest in Auckland

Listen to Story New Zealand beat Pakistan by 46 runs in the first T20I at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, January 12. With the win, the Kiwis took a crucial 1 0 lead in the five match series. After being put in to bat first, New Zealand racked up their highest score of 226 for the loss of eight wickets in T20Is against Pakistan.

Devon Conway departed for a duck, but Finn Allen threw the kitchen sink at everything to second over. Abbas Afridi, who made his international debut, gave Pakistan a breather by dismissing Allen, who scored 35 runs off 15 balls. Skipper Kane Williamson scored 57 runs off 42 balls with nine fours and did not look out of form on his return.

But it was Glenn Phillips who did most of the damage. The right hander played his shots to muster 61 runs off 27 balls before Shaheen accounted for his wicket. Glenn Phillips threw his bat around to score 19 runs off 11 deliveries. Mark Chapman made sure that he gave the New Zealand innings a finishing kick with a knock of 26 runs off 11 balls.

For Pakistan, Shaheen picked up three wickets, but leaked 46 runs. Abbas was impressive on debut as he finished with figures of 4 0 34 3. Haris Rauf was also accurate enough after he got two crucial wickets of Chapman and Ish Sodhi. Usama Mir had a terrible day in the office after he gave away 51 runs and failed to pick up a single wicket.

Pakistan made a thunderous start to the run chase after Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan put on 33 runs for the opening wicket off 2.2 overs. Ayub, who replaced Babar Azam as Pakistan’s new opening batter, made 27 runs off eight balls before getting run out. Rizwan made 25 runs off 14 balls and also equaled Mohammad Hafeez’s record of most sixes by a Pakistani batter in T20Is.

Babar Azam made a sedate start to his knock, scoring 10 runs off his first 12 balls. But then he stepped on the gas to bring up his half century off 33 balls. However, with the required rate going up, Babar perished in a quest to up and ante. Babar scored 57 runs off 35 balls with six fours and two sixes before Ben Sears dismissed him.

Once he departed, it was all over bar the shouting for Pakistan, who were bowled out for 180 in 18 overs. Tim Southee finished with stupendous figures of 4 0 25 4 and also became the first bowler to reach the landmark of 150 wickets in T20Is. Milne and Sears accounted for two scalps apiece. The second T20I is scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 14 at the Seddon Park in Hamilton..