Daryl Mitchell’s 61 and Tim Southee with 4/25 helped New Zealand win the first T20I versus Pakistan by 46 runs. It was a comprehensive win for the home team as the home team showed their might with the bat and ball.
Shaheen Shah Afridi made his debut as the Pakistani skipper in the T20I format. The 23-year-old made it a memorable event by picking a wicket off his very second ball. With the bat, Babar Azam came back to form with a brilliant half-century.
The former Pakistan skipper was demoted to number three as Saim Ayub made his T20I debut. It was a wonderful debut for the youngster with the bat as he smashed 23 runs from eight balls. In the field, Ayub had a day to forget as he dropped an easy catch
New Zealand registers an easy win over Pakistan –
Afridi won the toss and put New Zealand into bat. Pakistan’s skipper got the match off to a great with a wicket of Devon Conway for a duck. Finn Allen then came to the party scoring quick-fire 34 runs from fifteen balls. Kane Williamson and Finn Allen added fifty runs for the second wicket in just 27 balls.
The Kiwi skipper found a great ally in Daryl Mitchell to add 78 runs for the third wicket. Williamson was out for 57 before falling to debutant Abbas Afridi to give him his second wicket. Mark Chapman then scored 26 runs off just eleven balls as the Kiwis posted 226 on the board.
Chasing 227 to win, Saim Ayub began by scoring runs at a breakneck speed. The young left-handed batter was run out after scoring 27 from just eight balls with two fours and three sixes. Mohammed Rizwan played well to score 25 but could not convert it into a big score.
Tim Southee was the star with the ball for New Zealand with four wickets. Babar Azam top scored with 57 runs from thirty-five balls before falling to Ben Sears. Despite a strong fight from the top order, the Pakistani lower order failed to get going. The second game of the series will be played on Sunday with New Zealand holding a 1-0 lead.
Best Memes from NZ vs PAK First T20I –
Haris Rauf in T20 is a different player#PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/1ZFDuTfXDb
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) January 12, 2024
Can't be more true 😂😂😂
— احمد Bʌbʌr Fʌn (@BabarKingdomFan) January 12, 2024
What a legendary meme by @SKIPPER_PCT 🙌#BabarAzam𓃵 #PAKvsNZ #kohlantarp pic.twitter.com/Jm1btxoQ2N
You cannot keep him out of form for long time. He's back 💗#BabarAzam𓃵 #BabarAzam #PAKvsNZ #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/qAnUtAWqau
— ☺️ آپکی باجی اریبہ (@areeba_ki_memes) January 12, 2024
Pak vs Nz 2024 Pre Match Memes#PAKvsNZ #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/I5ny9RJAiV
— Haris Hanif Digital (@DigitalHaris) January 12, 2024
Rizwan and Babar did a partnership of 30(23) where team is chasing 226
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) January 12, 2024
RizBar 😍#PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/96tAhIFLNC
Finn Allen to Shaheen Afridi
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) January 12, 2024
6,4,4,4,6,2#PAKvsNZ #NzvPak pic.twitter.com/a5mJjMn95S
Finallyyyyy a Babar Azam fifty eyes in my tears🥹🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/XcZutxMGvo
— Laraib🍉 (@SimplyLaraib) January 12, 2024
Now imagine if it M Haris batting at the other end from Saim Ayub. pic.twitter.com/4Xej3hKg3L
— 🕷 Childish Ghambino 🍉 (@Sarkhail7Khan) January 12, 2024
Babar Azam after scoring runs in losing cause:#PAKvsNZ pic.twitter.com/zsidy8JWIr
— 🚨 (@HBA_162) January 12, 2024
lost the match but at least my MAN BABAR SCORED A FIFTY. A WIN IS A WIN pic.twitter.com/4b0gZBviHz
— mishal| abdul hannan stan❗❗ (@Mishalriiaz) January 12, 2024