wickets
New Zealand Beats Pakistan by Nine Wickets in First T20 International
In a dominant display of skill and composure, New Zealand triumphed over Pakistan by 9 wickets in the first T20I of their series. On a day when the weather was perfect for cricket, New Zealand put on a clinical performance, both with the bat and the ball, to outclass Pakistan in all departments. The result leaves Pakistan with a mountain to climb as they prepare for the remaining matches in the series.
The Toss and Team News
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that, at first glance, seemed reasonable given the evening conditions. With the dew expected to play a role later in the game, chasing might have been the preferred option, but the decision to bowl put the onus on Pakistan’s bowlers to restrict New Zealand to a manageable total.
New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, came into the match with an experienced batting line-up, boasting players like Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Mark Chapman. They had the depth and variety to post a competitive total. The bowling attack was equally strong, with Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee providing the pace and Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi offering the spin.
Pakistan, under the leadership of Babar Azam, also had a formidable line-up, with Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam at the top of the order. Their fast bowling attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Wasim, was expected to challenge New Zealand’s top order. However, it was clear from the outset that Pakistan was not at their best.
New Zealand’s Batting: A Controlled Assault
The match began with Devon Conway and Finn Allen walking out to the crease for New Zealand. Conway, the more composed of the two, has been in fine form, and his temperament would be key in providing stability. On the other hand, Allen’s aggressive style brought an element of excitement to the game. Pakistan’s opening bowler, Shaheen Afridi, started with a tight over, but Allen quickly took the initiative. On the fourth ball of Afridi’s first over, Allen hooked a short ball over deep square leg for a boundary, announcing his intentions wickets early.
Conway, at the other end, played his shots with calculated precision. He found gaps with ease and rotated the strike effectively, ensuring the pressure stayed off Allen. As the powerplay progressed, New Zealand had moved to 50/0 after 6 overs. Conway, playing with great poise, had made an early statement with a boundary off Mohammad Wasim Jr. while Allen was continuing his aggressive intent. Pakistan, on the other hand, had failed to make an early breakthrough, and their frustration was starting to show.
The introduction of spin brought no respite for Pakistan. Shadab Khan, the experienced leg-spinner, came into the attack in the 7th over, but Conway and Allen continued to score freely. Conway drove a half-volley from Shadab for a beautiful boundary through extra cover, while Allen found the fence again with a clean strike down the ground. Pakistan’s bowlers were unable to build pressure, and New Zealand raced to 75/0 at the 9-over mark.
Just when it seemed that New Zealand would run away with the game, Shaheen Afridi struck. Allen, who had looked in good touch, tried to launch Afridi over mid-wicket but ended up finding the fielder. He was dismissed for 25 off 14 balls, and New Zealand was 75/1 in the 9th over.
However, Glenn Phillips walked in at number three and immediately started ticking the scoreboard with quick singles and occasional boundaries. Conway continued to anchor the innings, playing the role of the stabilizer while Phillips looked to up the tempo. Together, the pair had added 50 runs before Phillips was dismissed for 21 off 18 balls. The scoreboard read 121/2 in the 15th over, and New Zealand still had plenty of batting to come.
With the arrival of Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand’s intent remained clear. Mitchell wasted no time, playing an authoritative shot over long-on for six. Conway, who had already brought up his half-century, was still going strong, showing remarkable consistency and timing. He found the gaps effortlessly, often piercing the infield with well-placed drives. At the end of the 18th over, New Zealand was well ahead of the required rate, needing only 25 more runs for victory.
Conway brought up his century in style, driving Haris Rauf for a boundary through the offside. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, as he put on an exhibition of classical T20 batting. With the target within reach, Mitchell and Conway played with ease, knocking off the remaining runs. Conway’s knock was an unforgettable 105* off 63 balls, and Mitchell finished with 15 off 7 balls*.
New Zealand reached 164/2 in just 18.5 overs, achieving victory by 9 wickets. Conway had steered New Zealand to a comfortable win, and the New Zealand team was elated with their performance.
Pakistan’s Response: A Lackluster Performance
Chasing 164 was never going to be easy ,wickets especially when you’re facing a quality bowling attack like New Zealand’s. Pakistan’s openers, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, needed to provide a solid foundation. However, the pressure mounted early, with Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee bowling an impeccable line and length.
Ferguson, in particular, was a standout. His pace was relentless, and he was able to extract bounce and movement off the pitch. Rizwan struggled to get going, and Babar Azam, looking to be the anchor, played a few solid shots but was dismissed cheaply for 14 off 12 balls, caught at mid-off off the bowling of Ferguson. Pakistan was 19/1 in the 4th over, and the pressure was already on.
Shan Masood, who came in at number three, was able to show some fight. He played a few solid strokes, including a boundary off Santner, but was soon dismissed for 30 off 23 balls. New Zealand’s bowlers continued to make inroads, and Pakistan’s middle order never got going. Shadab Khan (6), Mohammad Wasim Jr. (2), and Haris Rauf (3) were all dismissed cheaply, leaving Pakistan at 74/6 in the 11th over.
At this stage, it was clear that Pakistan had no chance of reaching the target. Mohammad Nawaz (24) and Shaheen Afridi (11*) tried to add some respectability to the scoreboard, but their efforts were too little, too late. Pakistan finished their innings at 137/6, still 27 runs short of New Zealand’s total.
New Zealand’s Bowling: Dominant and Clinical
New Zealand’s bowlers were outstanding wickets throughout Pakistan’s chase. Lockie Ferguson (2/25) and Tim Southee (1/22) set the tone early, while Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi kept things tight in the middle overs. Santner’s spin was particularly difficult for Pakistan to negotiate, as he finished with figures of 1/15 in his 4 overs.
The victory was a collective team effort for New Zealand, with everyone playing their part, but it was Devon Conway’s sensational century that truly stood out as the match-winning contribution.
Post-Match Reaction
In his post-match interview, New Zealand wickets captain Mitchell Santner praised his team’s performance, highlighting Conway’s brilliant knock and the disciplined bowling effort. “It was a clinical performance today,” Santner said. “Conway’s knock was outstanding, and the bowlers did exactly what was required to restrict Pakistan.”
On the other hand, Pakistan captain Babar Azam wickets was visibly disappointed. “We didn’t execute our plans well today,” he said. “Our bowlers didn’t deliver when needed, and we were unable to chase down the target.”
Conclusion
New Zealand’s 9-wicket victory wickets over Pakistan in the first T20I was a display of superior skill, strategy, and execution. While Conway’s century was the standout performance, the collective effort from the team ensured Pakistan never had a chance to get back into the game. For Pakistan, it was a wake-up call, and they will need to regroup and come up with a better plan for the rest of the series. With New Zealand setting the tone early, the pressure is now on Pakistan to deliver in the next match.