New Zealand clinch nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in first T20I

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand beat Pakistan by nine wickets in the first T20I of the five-match series on Sunday at Hagley Oval, courtesy of a dominant performance by the openers.

Chasing 91, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen displayed exceptional batting from the start, putting on a 53-run stand inside the powerplay, showcasing their brilliance with the bat. 

Seifert was heading toward yet another half-century in the T20I format but fell short, dismissed for 44 off 29 deliveries by Abrar Ahmed, leaving the score at 53-1 in 5.5 overs.

Tim Robinson then joined Allen and eased the pressure, helping chase down the target in the 11th over, giving New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the series. Finn Allen scored an unbeaten 29, while Robinson made 18 runs.

For Pakistan, spinner Abrar Ahmed was the only bowler to take a wicket, while the other bowlers failed to make an impact.

After being asked to bat first, the Men in Green struggled against a disciplined New Zealand bowling attack and were bundled out for 91, with Kyle Jamieson leading the charge by picking up crucial wickets.

Pakistan's innings got off to a disastrous start, with just one run on the board before they lost three quick wickets. Jamieson dismissed Mohammad Haris for a duck, while Irfan Khan managed only a single run. 

Debutant Hasan Nawaz also fell cheaply, out for a second-ball duck to Jacob Duffy, putting Pakistan under early pressure.

Vice-captain Shadab Khan failed to stabilize the innings, scoring just three runs off six deliveries before becoming Jamieson’s third victim. At 11-4 in 4.4 overs, Pakistan was reeling.

Skipper Agha Salman and Khushdil Shah put up some resistance with a 46-run stand for the fifth wicket, attempting to steady the innings. However, their efforts weren’t enough, as Ish Sodhi dismissed Agha for 18 runs off 20 balls, leaving Pakistan at 57-5 in 11.1 overs.

Khushdil, who looked aggressive, was the only batter to provide some fireworks, scoring 32 runs, including three sixes. However, his innings was cut short in the 13th over when Duffy struck again, reducing Pakistan to 64-6.

Pakistan kept losing wickets cheaply as another debutant, Abdul Samad, became Sodhi's second victim, dismissed for seven off 12 deliveries, leaving the team reeling at 80-7 in 15.3 overs.

Zakary Foulkes dealt Pakistan their eighth blow by dismissing Jahandad Khan, who managed 17 runs, increasing the pressure with the team struggling at 85-8.

Shaheen Afridi struggled to add runs before being dismissed by Duffy for just one, leaving the team at 89-9 in 18.1 overs.

Abrar Ahmed was the last to fall as Pakistan wrapped up their first innings, falling just nine runs short of 100.

Jacob Duffy stole the spotlight with four wickets, followed by Kyle Jamieson with three, Ish Sodhi with two, and Zakary Foulkes with one.

Pakistan playing XI: Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Abrar Ahmed

New Zealand playing XI: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitch Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zac Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy