Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 88 runs in the first T20I of their series in Lahore, setting the tone for the rest of the contests. Pakistan put up an impressive 182 runs with the help of Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, who each scored 47 runs in a 79-run partnership.
Haris Rauf was the standout bowler, taking four wickets for just 18 runs, while Imad Wasim took two for two, and Shaheen Shah Afridi and Zaman Khan each claimed a wicket. Despite a brief revival by Jimmy Neesham and Mark Chapman, New Zealand was bowled out for 94.
Matt Henry was the star performer for the visitors, taking a hat-trick that helped bring the hosts’ score down to below 200. Pakistan’s victory was a clinical one, demonstrating their superiority over the visitors, who struggled to keep up with their pace and skill.
Shaheen, Haris, and Zaman shine on home turf
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Zaman Khan made their presence felt, accounting for three of the first four wickets. The powerplay saw Adam Milne clean up Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, but it didn’t dampen Fakhar and Ayub’s belligerence. They hammered 46 runs between overs nine to 11, taking the hosts to a commanding position.
New Zealand was able to put up some resistance in the middle overs, with Matt Henry taking a hat-trick that put the pressure on Pakistan’s lower-middle order. However, the visitors were unable to maintain the momentum, and a late cameo from Imad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf took Pakistan past 180.
New Zealand’s chase never really got going, and they lost wickets regularly to the pace of Zaman, Afridi, and Rauf. Once Neesham holed out to Rauf, New Zealand’s collapse was swift, and they were bowled out for just 94.
Pakistan’s victory was an emphatic one, and they will look to carry their form into the rest of the series. Their pace attack, in particular, was a standout performer, and they will hope to keep up the pressure on New Zealand’s batsmen. The visitors, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly if they are to avoid a whitewash.
