Auckland (Web Desk): New Zealand set a target of 227 runs for Pakistan in the first match of the T20I series being played at Eden Park today (Friday).
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first against New Zealand.
Finn Allen and David Conway opened the game and Conway fell victim to Shaheen Afridi's ball.
Finn Allen went back to pavilion with of 34 runs in 15 balls with the help of 3 sixes and 3 fours. He was dismissed by Abbas Afridi.
New Zealand's third wicket fell for 128 when Kane Williamson was dismissed for 57 runs, including 9 fours.
New Zealand's lost fourth wicket when Glenn Phillips was caught out by Babar Azam for just 19 runs and Daryl Mitchell returned to the pavilion off Shaheen Afridi. He played a brilliant innings of 61 runs off 27 balls.
The match marks left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first assignment as captain, having taken over the reins from Babar Azam.
Fourth-ranked Pakistan last played T20s back in April 2023, when they faced New Zealand at home for a five-match series played in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, who has been named Shaheen’s vice-captain, was Pakistan’s leading run-getter in that series while right-arm pacer Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir, pacer Mohammad Abbas Afridi and wicketkeeper batter Haseebullah are the uncapped players in the squad while the returning trio of Sahibzada Farhan, Azam Khan and Aamir Jamal also adds depth to the squad.
Spinner Abrar Ahmed, who was initially part of the squad, has been ruled out owing to an injury he sustained last month during Pakistan’s Test tour of Australia.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Aamir Jamal, Usama Mir (Debut), Shaheen Afridi (c), Abbas Afridi (Debut), Haris Rauf
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Adam Milne, Matthew Henry, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears
