‘Haar se Pakistan cricket ko itni mohabbat kyu hai?’- Fans react as New Zealand demolish Pakistan by huge margin in 1st T20I
On a sun-kissed Eden Park, the Black Caps soared to a dominant 46-run victory over Pakistan in the opening T20I, flexing their muscles in the first encounter of the five-match series. Put […]
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Jan 12, 2024 5:00 pm
New Zealand vs Pakistan (Source – Twitter)
On a sun-kissed Eden Park, the Black Caps soared to a dominant 46-run victory over Pakistan in the opening T20I, flexing their muscles in the first encounter of the five-match series. Put into bat, New Zealand roared out of the gates, courtesy of Finn Allen’s whirlwind 34 off 15 balls. Kane Williamson, returning to the T20I side after a long hiatus, anchored the innings with a composed 57.
In the latter part of his innings, he got on a roll and smashed some fine boundaries. Daryl Mitchell then turned on the afterburners, slamming an electrifying 61 off just 27 deliveries, propelling the Kiwis to a formidable total of 226-8. Debutant Abbas Afridi was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, finishing with 3-34. Haris Rauf was also good in patches but the rest struggled to contain the rampaging Kiwi batsmen.
In reply, Pakistan’s chase got off to a superb start as Saim Ayub played an exciting brand of cricket, smashing 27 off just 8 deliveries. In what was a crucial moment, miscommunication between him and Mohammad Rizwan cost him his wicket in the 3rd over of the game. Rizwan made 25 off 14 but it was Babar Azam, who after starting slow, ended up with a fine 57 off 35 balls. Regular fall of wickets did not help Pakistan’s cause as in the end, they lost by a huge margin of 46 runs.
They never really got the momentum required to chase a target as big as 227. The Pakistani batter consistently fell victim to disciplined bowling from Tim Southee, who claimed figures of 4-25. Daryl Mitchell, who earlier starred with the bat, was adjudged Player of the Match for his blistering knock which thoroughly entertained the crowd.
Action shifts to Hamilton
This emphatic win sets the tone for what promises to be a tightly contested series. Both teams boast powerful batting lineups and potent bowling attacks, making the remaining matches mouthwatering prospects for cricket fans. The second T20Itakes place on Sunday at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, where Pakistan will be eager to bounce back and level the series.
