PAK vs NZ T20I: The highly anticipated T20I match between Pakistan and New Zealand took place the recent past at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Cricket enthusiasts from around the world were eagerly looking forward to this clash between two formidable teams known for their talent, skills, and competitive spirit. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first in the first T20I of the five-match series against the Kiwis.
Watch Live New Zealand Tour of Pakistan 2nd T20I at ARY ZAP
Pakistan’s innings got off to a rocky start as both their openers, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman, were dismissed early, with Rizwan falling to pacer Adam Milne in the fifth over after scoring just 30 runs.
However, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub stepped up to rescue Pakistan, building a crucial partnership of 79 runs that helped lift the tempo of the hosts. Ayub looked impressive, scoring 47 runs before being run out in the 12th over.
Kiwi’s struck back, taking four quick wickets, including that of Zaman, who departed after contributing 47 runs to the total. In the latter part of the innings, Faheem Ashraf played a cameo, smashing a quickfire 22 off just 16 balls, while Wasim added 16 runs off 13 balls, helping Pakistan add 47 runs in the last five overs.
Henry was the standout bowler for New Zealand, picking up a hat-trick and becoming the fourth New Zealand bowler to achieve this feat. Pakistan’s innings came to an end on the penultimate ball, with Lister finishing with figures of 2-30 and Milne with 2-51.
In response, New Zealand’s batting lineup struggled to chase down the target of 183 runs, crumbling under the pressure and managing to muster only 94 runs before being bowled out in the 15th over. It was a comprehensive collapse, resulting in a resounding victory for Pakistan.
The second T20I of the PAK vs NZ five-match series is scheduled to be played today (April 15) at 21:00 PST at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Cricket fans are eagerly anticipating another thrilling encounter between these two teams, as Pakistan looks to carry forward their momentum from the first match and New Zealand aims to bounce back and level the series.
The stage is set for another exciting showdown of PAK vs NZ T20I series at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium, and cricket enthusiasts around the world are eagerly looking forward to witnessing more high-octane action on the field. Stay tuned for more updates from this exciting T20I series!