AUCKLAND: New Zealand side set a 227–run target while batting first against Pakistan in the first T20I match at Eden Park, Auckland, on Friday.
Brilliant on debut! 🙌
Abbas Afridi finishes his four-over spell with 3️⃣-3️⃣4️⃣ ☄️#NZvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/Vx0tmHsrHj
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 12, 2024
Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell were New Zealand’s best performers with the bat as the two players scored 61 and 57 runs respectively. Afridi secured three wickets for 46 runs, Abbas claimed three wickets for 34 runs, and Rauf took two wickets, conceding 34 runs.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand. Today’s match marks Shaheen Afridi’s first appearance as skipper, having taken over the reins from Babar. Saim and Rizwan opened the match with former captain Babar Azam featuring in the middle order. Pakistan last played T20Is in April last year against New Zealand at home.
Pakistan v New Zealand 1st T20
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who has been named Shaheen Afridi’s vice-captain, was Pakistan’s leading run-getter in the series. Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler during that series.
Playing XI
New Zealand: Devon Conway (wk), Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (c), Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Matthew Henry, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ben Sears.
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Aamir Jamal, Usama Mir (Debut), Abbas Afridi (Debut), Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf.
