Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Haris Rauf rejoice after the dismissal of New Zealand’s James Neesham through the first twenty20 cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Lahore, Pakistan on April 14, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
Pakistan celebrated the 100th Twenty20 of its all-format captain Babar Azam with a thumping 88-run win over a weakened New Zealand in the primary sport of their five-match sequence on April 14.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf’s career-best figures of 4-18 upstaged Matt Henry’s earlier hat trick as New Zealand obtained bowled out for 94 with greater than 4 overs to spare — dropping its final 5 wickets for under six runs.
Rapidly bettering younger batter Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman made 47 runs every earlier than New Zealand struck in the latter half of the innings on the again of Henry’s hat trick and obtained Pakistan bowled out for 182 in the ultimate over.
“I still remember the journey of starting off here as a ball-boy on the sidelines and to now be here, it is a huge honor,” Babar stated.
Pakistan obtained to its full power for the sequence in opposition to the Kiwis after dropping to Afghanistan 2-1 in the United Arab Emirates in a sequence the place 4 frontline gamers, together with Rauf and Babar, have been rested.
A depleted New Zealand facet is touring Pakistan for a 5 T20s and 5 ODIs with out eight of its frontline gamers, who’re busy in the Indian Premier League.
“Lot of guys have not been here and it is about taking the learnings from this game and adapt quickly tomorrow,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham stated. “We did not quite adapt to the conditions early enough … on that surface, the (Pakistan) score was slightly above-par.”
New Zealand struck early by way of Adam Milne (2-51) in the powerplay when the quick bowler trapped Mohammad Rizwan (8) leg earlier than wicket and Babar went for an over formidable shot on the offside in opposition to the pacer and was bowled out for 9 off 7 balls.
Left-handers Saim and Fakhar then mixed in an aggressive 79-run stand off 43 balls earlier than Saim was run out as he couldn’t beat Chad Bowes’ direct throw from deep midwicket and fell wanting his crease on the non-striker’s finish.
Fakhar additionally perished earlier than the demise overs when he was caught in the deep whereas making an attempt a sweep in opposition to leg-spinner Ish Sodhi as Pakistan slipped to 6-131.
Henry then completed a break up hat trick when he had Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed caught behind on the ultimate two balls of his third over in his return spell. Henry then had Shaheen Shah Afridi caught in the deep by way of Daryl Mitchell’s spectacular effort, who parried the ball again to Bowes on the sector whereas falling over the boundary line.
New Zealand’s inexperienced top-order was rattled by Pakistan’s sturdy tempo assault with Mark Chapman top-scoring with a chancy 34 however not earlier than Rizwan missed a regulation stumping early in his knock.
Rauf then rapidly wrapped up the innings by claiming three wickets in his return spell and left-arm spinner Imad Wasim additionally picked up two wickets off successive deliveries to present Pakistan emphatic begin in the sequence.
Lahore will host two extra T20s earlier than Rawalpindi phases the final two video games of the sequence. The T20 sequence shall be adopted by 5 ODIs in Rawalpindi and Karachi.
