Lahore, 15 April 2023: Haris Rauf’s four-fer and a 79-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub led Pakistan to a comprehensive 88-run win over New Zealand in the first T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday evening. Both sides will meet again on Saturday evening for the second T20I of the five-match series.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan lost opening pair of Babar Azam (9, 7b, 2x4s) and Mohammad Rizwan (8, 10b, 2x4s) inside the batting powerplay (4.2 overs) with 30 runs on the board.
Coming to bat at number three Fakhar was joined by young Saim and the duo added 79 runs for the third wicket and took Pakistan to 109 in the 12th over with Saim getting out for 47 off 28 balls, smashing six fours and two sixes. After the departure of Saim, Pakistan lost wickets at the regular intervals with New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry taking a hat-trick dismissing Shadab Khan (5, 3b,1x4), Iftikhar Ahmed first ball duck and Shaheen Shah Afridi (1,2b).
That the home side was managed to post a formidable 182 all out was due to late onslaught from Faheem Ashraf (22, 16b, 2x4s, 1x6) and 34-ball 47 from Fakhar.
For New Zealand, Henry ended up with figures of three for 32 in four overs, while Adam Milne and Ben Lister bagged two wickets apiece.
Chasing a challenging target, New Zealand got off to a shaky start as the Pakistani bowlers struck early. Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan and Faheem Ashraf bowled with pace and accuracy, picking up crucial wickets. Mark Chapman (34, 27b, 4x4s, 1x6) tried to counter-attack with aggressive strokeplay, but he lacked support from the other end.
Wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals, with New Zealand struggling to keep up with the required run rate and the tourists were eventually bowled out for 94 in the 16th over with left-arm spinner Imad Wasim chipping in with two wickets in an over and was at one time on a hat-trick in the 15th over.
Haris was adjudged the player of the match for his outstanding bowling (3.3-0-18-4) that set up Pakistan's victory.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan beat New Zealand by 88 runs
Pakistan 182 all out, 19.5 overs (Fakhar Zaman 47, Saim Ayub 47, Faheem Ashraf 22; Matt Henry 3-32, Ben Lister 2- 30, Adam Milne 2-51)
New Zealand 94 all out, 15.3 overs (Mark Chapman 34, Tom Latham 20; Haris Rauf 4-18, Imad Wasim 2-2)
Player of the match – Haris Rauf (Pakistan)
