New Zealand beat PAK in the first T20 by 5 Wickets – See highlights: New Zealand rode a four-wicket round by pacemaker Jacob Duffy and half-century by goalie-hitter Tim Seifert to beat Pakistan by five wickets in the first T20I at Eden Park on Friday.
Am I seeing double ?!
Santner SIX wins a T20I for the second time this season!
GREAT JOB guys that’s a five wicket win to start#NZvPAK #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/5q1RzIf7s5
– BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 18, 2020
The Black Caps first restricted Pakistan to 153/9 and then chased the target with seven balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.
Previously opting to hit, the team led by Shadab Khan got off to a horrible start, losing five wickets of 39 in the first nine overs. However, Shadab’s 42v32 and a 31-run inning by Faheem Ashraf helped Pakistan break the 150-run mark.
Imad Wasim (19), goalkeeper Mohammad Rizwan (17) and Khushdil Shah (16) made other notable contributions.
For the hosts, Duffy returned 4/33 in his four overs, while Scott Kuggeleijn chose three wickets while conceding 27 runs.
The hosts also didn’t get off to a great start in their chase, as they lost Martin Guptill (6) and Devon Conway (5) in the first four overs. However, Seifert, who opened the innings, kept scoring runs and teamed up with Glenn Phillips (23) of 44 runs before the latter came out. Mark Chapman (34) then contributed 45 runs for Seifert.
Seifert, after hitting his 50-run mark, came out with New Zealand still needing 44 runs on 32 balls.
James Neesham (15) and captain Mitchell Santner (12) then took the team home in the penultimate final of the match.
The two teams will now meet in Game 2 at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on Sunday.
Brief scores: Pakistan 153/9 (Shadab Khan 42; Jacob Duffy 4/33) lose to New Zealand 156/5 (Tim Seifert 57; Haris Rauf 3/29)
156/5 (18.5 ov)
New Zealand vs Pakistan T20 Series Complete Schedule
December 18, Friday: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 1st T20 Eden Park, Auckland – 11.30am M.
December 20, Sunday: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd T20 Seddon Park, Hamilton- 11.30am. M.
December 22, Tuesday: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 3rd T20 Mclean Park, Napier – 11.30am M.
