Afridi’s Debut as Captain Ends in Defeat
In a thrilling encounter at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand asserted its dominance over Pakistan in the first T20I. Shaheen Afridi’s inaugural stint as the shortest format captain turned sour as New Zealand clinched a convincing victory, leading the five-match series 1-0.
Green Shirts’ Batting Woes
Despite a promising start fueled by Saim Ayub’s explosive 27 off 8, Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled. The Green Shirts, at 130-4 in 12.4 overs, had a chance to chase the target. However, Azam Khan’s subpar performance added to their woes. Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Azam Khan failed to make significant contributions.
Babar Azam’s Resilience
Former skipper Babar Azam showcased resilience, top-scoring with 57 runs off 35 balls. Unfortunately, his efforts weren’t enough to secure a win against New Zealand’s formidable target.
New Zealand’s Stellar Batting Display
Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson emerged as New Zealand’s batting stars, scoring 57 and 61 runs, respectively. Williamson, dropped early in the innings, capitalized on the opportunity, contributing to a fantastic half-century. Finn Allen and Mitchell exhibited remarkable strike rates of 233 and 255, adding to Pakistan’s bowling challenges.
Bowling Struggles for Pakistan
Pakistan’s bowlers faced a tough day, with Abbas Afridi and Haris Rauf being the only exceptions, maintaining a decent economy of 8.50 each. Afridi, despite a promising start, conceded 46 runs while taking three wickets. Aamer Jamal and Usama Mir also struggled, conceding 56 and 51 runs, respectively.
Lineups and Schedule
Lineups:
- Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Aamer Jamal, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi (c), Abbas Afridi, Haris Rauf
- New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Adam Milne, Matthew Henry, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears
Full Schedule:
- 12 January 2024: Eden Park, Auckland
- 14 January 2024: Seddon Park, Hamilton
- 17 January 2024: University Oval, Dunedin
- 19 January 2024: Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 21 January 2024: Hagley Oval, Christchurch
New Zealand’s commanding performance sets the stage for an exciting series as Pakistan aims for redemption in the upcoming matches.
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