T20I Series: New Zealand secured a convincing 46-run victory against Pakistan

New Zealand kickstarted their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup with an impressive 46-run victory over Pakistan in the T20I series opener held in Auckland. Captain Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell delivered standout performances with the bat, both scoring half-centuries, while veteran seamer Tim Southee was exceptional, claiming four wickets for just 25 runs in his four-over spell.

The encounter at Auckland’s Eden Park featured two top teams in T20 cricket, with New Zealand opting to bat first. Shaheen Afridi made an early breakthrough by dismissing Devon Conway for a first-ball duck. However, Finn Allen, Conway’s opening partner, played an explosive innings, hammering the newly-appointed Pakistan captain for 24 runs in a single over, his most expensive over in T20Is.

After debutant Abbas Afridi removed Allen for 34 runs off 15 balls, Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell took charge, pummeling the Pakistan bowlers all around the ground. Captain Kane completed his half-century on his return to T20Is, while Mitchell continued to dominate the Pakistani attack.

Supported by valuable contributions from the lower-order batsmen and an outstanding 61 off 27 balls from Mitchell, New Zealand set a formidable target, posting their highest team total in T20Is at 226 for eight.

Pakistan’s response saw rookie Saim Ayub provide an explosive start, smashing three sixes and as many fours during his brief innings of 27 runs off 8 balls. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam added 30 runs for the second wicket before Tim Southee dismissed Rizwan. However, Babar Azam carried on and reached his fifty.

After the fall of the fifth wicket, Pakistan’s chase began to crumble, and the Kiwi bowlers capitalized on this momentum shift. Tim Southee’s four-wicket haul, combined with two wickets each from Adam Milne and Ben Sears, enabled New Zealand to bowl out Pakistan for 180.

The series will continue with the second T20I at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday, January 14th.