92/1 (10.1)
CR : 9.05
91/10 (18.4)
CR : 4.88
New Zealand won by 9 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Kyle Jamieson
3/8
10.1
2
A Ahmed to T Robinson
That's it New Zealand have won by 9 wickets!!! Over the wicket. Length ball outside off. Robinson rocks back and punches it in the gap between cover and point. Deep point runs to his right to cut this off but cannot prevent the batters from taking two runs. New Zealand chase the total down with 59 balls to spare and they go 1-0 in this 5-match series.
Over 11
New Zealand 92/1
Tim Robinson18(15)
Finn Allen29(17)
Abrar Ahmed1-15(2.1)
NZ won by 9 wickets
9:15 AM, 4:45 PM local time | New Zealand win by 9 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series.
The hosts have welcomed Pakistan with a mauling. Usually, after a loss like this, you hear teams talking about "taking the positives and moving forward". For Pakistan, it might be hard to find any today.
Michael Bracewell sounded cogent at the toss when he said that they wanted to put the opposition in. His fast bowlers validated the decision by putting in a performance that might make a few batters lose sleep tonight. They hit the right lengths, got consistent movement with the new ball and made the Pakistan top order look silly. The batters prodded, poked and jabbed. Struggled all the time to lay bat on ball. The steep bounce on offer did not make it any easier.
Kyle Jamieson returned 3/8 in his four overs. Jacob Duffy one upped him to end the day with 4/14. Ish Sodhi chipped in with a couple of wickets and Zakary Foulkes too got one to his name. Despite three dropped catches by the NZ fielders, Pakistan could only notch up 91 runs on the board. Khushdil Shah was the only batter who got himself past 20.
Then, Blackcaps blazed through the run chase. Tim Seifert (44 off 29 balls) was prepared to take his chances. He moved around the crease, played a few unorthodox shots. All the talks of "keeping your shape", "having a still head" appeared pointless. He even made Finn Allen look like a calm customer. Though, he did eventually got out slashing at a wide one from Abrar Ahmed. But his opening partner, along with Tim Robinson, ensured that the hosts got home without any more trouble.
The hosts have welcomed Pakistan with a mauling. Usually, after a loss like this, you hear teams talking about "taking the positives and moving forward". For Pakistan, it might be hard to find any today.
Michael Bracewell sounded cogent at the toss when he said that they wanted to put the opposition in. His fast bowlers validated the decision by putting in a performance that might make a few batters lose sleep tonight. They hit the right lengths, got consistent movement with the new ball and made the Pakistan top order look silly. The batters prodded, poked and jabbed. Struggled all the time to lay bat on ball. The steep bounce on offer did not make it any easier.
Kyle Jamieson returned 3/8 in his four overs. Jacob Duffy one upped him to end the day with 4/14. Ish Sodhi chipped in with a couple of wickets and Zakary Foulkes too got one to his name. Despite three dropped catches by the NZ fielders, Pakistan could only notch up 91 runs on the board. Khushdil Shah was the only batter who got himself past 20.
Then, Blackcaps blazed through the run chase. Tim Seifert (44 off 29 balls) was prepared to take his chances. He moved around the crease, played a few unorthodox shots. All the talks of "keeping your shape", "having a still head" appeared pointless. He even made Finn Allen look like a calm customer. Though, he did eventually got out slashing at a wide one from Abrar Ahmed. But his opening partner, along with Tim Robinson, ensured that the hosts got home without any more trouble.
Player of the Match: Kyle Jamieson
Kyle Jamieson (POTM): "Yeah, it was pretty nice to be back on home soil. We had favourable conditions myself and Duffy. We would love to carry this surface to most places.
(on favourable conditions) It is nice when you are playing for a bit of carnage, but when you get conditions like that, you just have to hit the right lengths and let the ball do its magic.
(On fresh faces in the squad) Yeah, I think we got a good group of players. Nice to be back on home soil and get conditions which suit us.
Certainly, enjoyed bowling with him. T20 cricket is about bowling in partnerships. He did well up top and then at the back end as well. Great effort by pacers and then Ish and Bracewell too."
(on favourable conditions) It is nice when you are playing for a bit of carnage, but when you get conditions like that, you just have to hit the right lengths and let the ball do its magic.
(On fresh faces in the squad) Yeah, I think we got a good group of players. Nice to be back on home soil and get conditions which suit us.
Certainly, enjoyed bowling with him. T20 cricket is about bowling in partnerships. He did well up top and then at the back end as well. Great effort by pacers and then Ish and Bracewell too."
Agha Salman (Pakistan captain): "It was obviously difficult. We were not up to the mark. But we do not have much time. We need to bounce back. They bowled really well in the powerplay. We did not bat well. Now we have one day before the next game. We need to gather ourselves. There were three debutants today. It is a young side. In New Zealand, the new ball always does a bit. We will try to use it in the next game."
Michael Bracewell (New Zealand Captain): "Yeah, dreamt of something like that yesterday and it all came alive. Great day in front of a great crowd.
(On opening bowlers) Have played against them (Jamieson and Duffy) domestically. To be on the same team as Kyle and see him do his things and then Jacob, the way he bowled up top, they put them under pressure and they never really recovered.
Yeah, Kyle wanted to bowl the fourth but I had to hold him back. But it is something to think about. When you are on top, maybe we could have restricted them to less. It is a challenge as a captain to try and get through the overs but also make the most challenging guys bowl more overs."
(On opening bowlers) Have played against them (Jamieson and Duffy) domestically. To be on the same team as Kyle and see him do his things and then Jacob, the way he bowled up top, they put them under pressure and they never really recovered.
Yeah, Kyle wanted to bowl the fourth but I had to hold him back. But it is something to think about. When you are on top, maybe we could have restricted them to less. It is a challenge as a captain to try and get through the overs but also make the most challenging guys bowl more overs."
That brings us to the end of our coverage for this match. Pakistan would surely be disappointed. But remember, this is a long series and there is enough time to stage a comeback. Having said that, it would not be easy given the lack of experience in their squad. But the fans will hope that the exuberance of youth helps them turn things around.
The second T20I will take place on Tuesday, March 18th at Dunedin. And we will be there to call the action. Do join us then For now, it is the troika of Darpan Tikiya, Ajay Raghava and Dushyant Madhukar Kumar signing off. Kia Ora!