AUCKLAND (Staff Report) – Pakistan on Friday beat New Zealand by 16 runs in first T20 game of thee-match series against Pakistan at Auckland’s Eden Garden cricket stadium.
Pakistan set 172 runs target while New Zealand could score 155 runs in the given 20 overs.
LIVE: Pakistan win toss, elect to field first against New Zealand in third T20
Pakistan’s opener Mohammad Hafeez scored 61 runs off 47 balls while Shahid Afridi hammered 23 runs off 8 balls only. He hit 2 sixes and 2 fours.
New Zealand’s AF Milne picked four wickets against 37 runs.
While chasing the target New Zealand skipper Williamson scored 70 runs off 60 balls. Munro smashed 56 runs off 27 balls only.
Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz got three wickets, and Umer Gul and Shahid Afridi each picked two wickets. Muhammad Amir bagged one wicket.
Earlier this day, New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first.
After winning the toss New Zealand skipper Williamson said that Ross Taylor was not playing the first T20 game while Matt Henry will replace him in the playing. Todd Astle would be making his T20 debut, he further added.
On the occasion, Pakistan skipper said that his team was well prepared and ready to defeat any team in the world. We will exhibit our excellent talent here against New Zealand today, he said.
Pakistani pacer Muhammad Amir returned to international cricket after five years ban. He was found guilty of match fixing in 2010.
The remaining two T20 matches of series will be played at Hamilton and Wellington on January 17 and 22 respectively.
Any of the two teams winning T20 series with 3-0 lead may jump to number one position in ICC ranking. In case of 2-1 result the series’ winning team will make it to number five.
The T20 series will be followed by a three-match ODI series. Pakistan will conclude its New Zealand trip on January 31.
Pakistan Team:
Ahmed Shahzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi*, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Mohammad Amir
New Zealand Team:
MJ Guptill, KS Williamson*, C Munro, CJ Anderson, GD Elliott, L Ronchi†, MJ Santner, TD Astle, AF Milne, MJ Henry, TA Boult
Tour Schedule:
1st T20I – New Zealand vs Pakistan
Fri Jan 15 06:00 GMT | 11:00 PST | at Auckland
2nd T20I – New Zealand vs Pakistan
Sun Jan 17 06:00 GMT | 11:00 PST | at Hamilton
3rd T20I – New Zealand vs Pakistan
Fri Jan 22 06:00 GMT | 11:00 PST | at Wellington
1st ODI – New Zealand vs Pakistan
Mon Jan 25 22:00 GMT | 03:00 PST | at Wellington
2nd ODI – New Zealand vs Pakistan
Thu Jan 28 01:00 GMT | 06:00 PST | at Napier
3rd ODI – New Zealand vs Pakistan
Sun Jan 31 22:00 GMT | 03:00 PST | at Auckland
