Pakistan Defeats New Zealand by 88 Runs in Babar Azam’s 100th International Match

Pakistan celebrated skipper Babar Azam’s 100th worldwide match in the shortest format with a medical 88-run win in the primary Twenty20 in opposition to New Zealand in Lahore on Friday.

Azam failed with simply 9 runs however Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub scored 47 runs every and placed on a 79-run partnership for the third wicket to anchor Pakistan to 182 all out in 19.5 overs.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf, one in all 5 gamers who returned after being rested in Pakistan’s final collection in opposition to Afghanistan, took profession finest figures of 4-18 as New Zealand had been 94 all out in 15.3 overs.

Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim completed with 2-2 in his solely over — taking each his wickets off successive deliveries.

Mark Chapman top-scored with 27-ball 34 inclusive of 4 boundaries and a six whereas skipper Tom Latham made 24-ball 20.

Rauf’s earlier finest T20 figures of 4-22 had additionally come in opposition to New Zealand in Sharjah in 2021.

Azam praised his bowling unit.

“The pitch was aiding the bowlers so it was a great batting efficiency to get that whole after which our full bowling unit was wonderful,” said Azam, happy at reaching a personal landmark.

“I had never expected this. I still remember the journey of starting off here as a ball-boy on the side-lines, and to now be here, it is a huge honour,” mentioned Azam of serving as a ball-boy in the course of the 2007 collection in opposition to South Africa.

Latham mentioned his workforce didn’t tailored to the totally different situations.

“We didn’t fairly adapt to the situations early sufficient,” said Latham whose team are missing top eight players due to Indian Premier League.

“On that surface, the score was slightly above-par. We did not build partnerships with the bat.”

Earlier, Zaman and Ayub lifted Pakistan from a poor begin after they gained the toss and batted.

Pakistan misplaced each their openers — Mohammad Rizwan leg-before for eight after which Azam bowled — to pacer Adam Milne by the fifth over for simply 30.

Ayub lifted the tempo with two boundaries every off Milne and Ben Lister earlier than he and Zaman hit a six every off spinner Ish Sodhi in the tenth over.

Zaman struck 4 boundaries and two sixes in his 34-ball knock whereas Ayub’s fast 28-ball innings featured two sixes and 6 fours.

Ayub was run out whereas taking a second run earlier than Zaman was caught at deep square-leg off Sodhi.

Faheem Ashraf hit a 16-ball 22 whereas Wasim scored 16 off 13 balls to assist Pakistan add 47 runs in the final 5 overs.

New Zealand pacer Matt Henry took a hat trick in his figures of 3-32.

Henry dismissed Shadab Khan (5) and Iftikhar Ahmed (nought) off the final two deliveries of his third over after which Shaheen Shah Afridi with the primary of his fourth.

Lister had figures of 2-30 whereas Milne completed with 2-51.

The remaining 4 matches are in Lahore on April 15 and April 17 and Rawalpindi on April 20 and 24.

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