New Zealand achieved the target of 154 in the 19th over at a loss of 5 wickets. In Auckland, Pakistan set a target of 154 for victory in the first T20 match.
Martin Guptill and wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert started the innings for New Zealand in the first match of the T20 series in Auckland, New Zealand. Guptill fell victim to Shaheen Afridi after scoring 6 runs. After which, Dev Conway came to bat but Harris Rauf also sent him back to the pavilion for 5 runs.
Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert had a good partnership. Phillips was dismissed for 23. But Seifert remained on the crease and formed another good partnership with Mark Chapman. To help the team win, with Chapman scoring 34 runs. After being dismissed when Seifert scored a brilliant half-century, he returned to the pavilion with 57 runs.
A fifty from Tim Seifert and useful knocks from the middle-order batsmen guide New Zealand to a five-wicket win in the first T20I 🎉 #NZvPAK SCORECARD 👉 https://t.co/sBocSjjO8S pic.twitter.com/AQAAtZqe4I
— ICC (@ICC) December 18, 2020
For the national team, Haris Rauf took 3 wickets and Shaheen Afridi took 2 wickets.
Earlier, national team captain Shadab Khan won the toss and elected to bat first, but in Babar Azam’s absence, Pakistan’s top order failed miserably. Shadab Khan was the top scorer with 42 and Faheem Ashraf with 31 runs.
Statistics
Abdullah Shafiq and Mohammad Rizwan started the innings, Abdullah returned to the pavilion without opening the account and Mohammad Rizwan was out after scoring 17 runs, veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez did not bother to open the account while Haider Ali too. Only 3 runs proved to be guests.
Khushdal Shah, along with captain Shadab Khan, pushed the scoreboard forward but Khushdal Shah also gave up on 16 runs. With half the team returning to the pavilion for 39, it looked as if Pakistan could barely score 100, but captain Shadab Khan, acting responsibly, formed a good partnership first with Emad and then with Faheem Ashraf.
4⃣2⃣ Runs 🏏
2⃣ Fours 💥
3⃣ Sixes ☄️
Captain Shadab 👌#NZvPAK | #HarHaalMainCricket | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/XPA9hOtHrC— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 18, 2020
Emad Wasim (19) and Wahab Riaz (9) were dismissed. Captain Shadab Khan returned to the pavilion with brilliant innings of 42 runs. While Faheem Ashraf played an aggressive inning of 31 off 17 balls.
Debuting for New Zealand, Jacob Duffy took 4 wickets, Scott Koglin took 3 wickets and one wicket went to Aish Sodhi.
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The national team is led by Shadab Khan. The other players include Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafiq, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Khushdal Shah, Emad Wasim, Fahim Ashraf, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf.
Mitchell is leading New Zealand in the absence of Ken Williamson. While other players include Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mark Chapman, Scott Coglin, Aish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, and Blair Tucker.