Pakistan have been put in to bat in the first T20 against New Zealand. Skipper Shahid Afridi was hopeful of his team and said:-

“New Zealand are a good side and have been playing impressive cricket at their own turf. But the boys are motivated and I believe they have the ability to beat any side in the world.” Afridi also said the team had prepared well in the camp for the series.

Pakistan’s playing 11:-

Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Mohammad Amir

New Zealand’s playing 11:-

KS Williamson, MJ Guptill, C Munro, CJ Anderson, GD Elliott, L Ronchi†, MJ Santner, TD Astle, AF Milne, MJ Henry, TA Boult

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New Zealand Innings

New Zealand from 20 overs:

W, 1, 1, 1, 0, W

Pakistan clinch the first T20 by taking two wickets in the final over and dismissing New Zealand for 155 runs.

New Zealand from 19 overs: 152/8

2, 0, 1, 4, 2, wd, W

After conceding a boundary and bowling a wide delivery, Mohammad Amir finally takes his comeback wicket as New Zealand lose their 8th wicket.

New Zealand from 18 overs: 142/7

0, 4, 1, W, 4, 0

New Zealand from 17 overs: 133/6

1, 0, 1, 4, 4, 1

A good over from the under pressure New Zealand, as Williamson smashed Amir for two boundaries in the over.

New Zealand from 16 overs: 122/6

2, 0, 6, 4,  1, 0

An expensive over for Pakistan, as successful boundaries from Williamson cost Pakistan 13 runs from the over.

New Zealand from 15 overs: 109/6

1, 0, 0, W, 1, 0

Afridi takes a near-impossible catch to dismiss Santner, as the Kiwis are visibly struggling to reach Pakistan’s total of 172.

New Zealand after 13 overs: 107/5

Wk, 0, 0, 0, Wk, 0

A deadly over by Shahid Afridi has New Zealand staggering at 107/5. Not only was it a maiden over but Afridi also managed to pick up two valuable Kiwi wickets. The tide seems to have turned in Pakistan’s favour following Afridi’s magical over.

New Zealand after 12 overs: 107/3

1, 2, 0, 0, 4, 2

New Zealand after 11 overs: 92/3

1, 0, W, 0, 1, 1

Imad Wasim finally gets rewarded for his stellar bowling performance as he dismisses Anderson.

New Zealand after 10 overs: 89/2

1, 0, 6, 1, 1, W

After being hit for a six, Wahab Riaz made a strong comeback when he dismissed danger man Munro, bowling him completely. New Zealand lose their second wicket as Munro departed for an impressive 56 from 27 balls.

New Zealand after 9 overs: 80/1

0, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1

After consecutive expensive overs, this over from Afridi was a good sign as no boundaries were given in it.

New Zealand after 8 overs: 74/1

1, 0, 1, 6, 2, 1

Wahab Riaz bowled well throughout the over if not for that one bouncer which was hit by Munro for a six.

New Zealand after 7 overs: 63/1

Wd1, 2, 2, 2, 1, 6, 1

Munro continued with his smashing innings and lofted Shahid Afridi effortlessly for a six on the fifth delivery.

New Zealand after 6 overs: 47/1

1, 0, 6, 4, 6, 6

Umar Gul was plummeted for 23 runs from the over, which consisted of 3 sixes and 1 four.

New Zealand after 5 overs: 24/1

1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0

Imad Wasim’s clever bowling denies the Kiwis any chance to score boundaries. Singles were the only thing that New Zealand’s batsmen could salvage out of that over.

New Zealand after 4 overs: 20/1

0, 1, 4, 1, 1, 0

Mohommad Amir was denied a classic comeback when Shahid Afridi dropped Williamson, which ought to have been a simple catch.

New Zealand after 3 overs: 13/1

1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0

A good over by Umar Gul, doesn’t give much except only singles.

New Zealand after 2 overs: 9/1

0, 1, 0, 0, W, 0

Imad Wasim keep the Kiwis restricted until a mix-up between Guptil and Williamson costs New Zealand an early, foolish wicket.

New Zealand after 1 over: 8/0

Wd, 1, 2, 0, 0, 4

Mohammad Amir marked his return to international cricket with an expensive over, that started off with a wide and ended with a boundary. Williamson nudged one down to the boundary as Amir delivered a ball which was too much on the leg-side.

Pakistan Innings

Pakistan after 20 overs: 171/8

1, W, 0, 1, 1, 1

Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz could only manage singles, as Pakistan finished at 171/8 after 20 overs.

Pakistan after 19 overs: 167/7

1, 0, 2, 2, 1, W

Pakistan after 18 overs: 161/6

W, 1, 1, 4, 2, 6

Pakistan after 17 overs: 147/5

2, 6, 2, 2, W, 1

Pakistan after 16 overs: 134/4

Wd, 6, 4, 4, 6, 1, 1

Afridi completely dominated Henry in the over, smashing him for two sixes and two fours.

Pakistan after 15 overs: 111/4

0, 1, 1, 4, W, 1

Pakistan lose their fourth and much prized wicket of Mohammad Hafeez, who scored an impressive 61 runs from 47 balls.

Pakistan after 14 overs: 104/3

1, 0, 0, 4, 1, 4

The batsmen show aggression yet again, as Pakistan smash two boundaries in the over to score 10 runs in the over.

Pakistan after 13 overs: 94/3

1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1

Pakistan edge forward cautiously, scoring only 4 runs from the over.

Pakistan after 12 overs: 90/3

1, 6, 0, 1, 1, 1

Hafeez continues to lead the Pakistani onslaught despite the loss of wickets, as he smashed another six in this over.

Pakistan after 11 overs: 80/3

1, 0, 0, W, 1, 1

Pakistan suffer another loss as Shoaib Malik is caught out after hitting a splendid six in the previous over.

Pakistan after 10 overs: 77/2

0, 6, 4, 2, 1, 1

Shoaib Malik settles in nicely and hit a gigantic six. Pakistan derive 14 runs from the over to sit pretty at 77/2. Hafeez remains unbeaten at 40 and Malik at 20.

Pakistan after 9 overs: 63/2

0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 1

Hafeez and Malik continue taking singles and doubles as Pakistan reach 63/2 after 9 overs.

Pakistan after 8 overs: 58/2

1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0

Maqsood’s wicket seems to have slowed Pakistan’s onslaught, as the visitors take cautious runs.

Pakistan after 7 overs: 54/2

W, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1

Sohaib Maqsood threw away his wicket by walking down the crease, attempting a six but the ball spun away from him and he was stumped.

Pakistan after 6 overs: 52/1

4, 4, 0, 6, 0, 4

Hafeez plummeted Anderson in the sixth over of the game for a six and three fours. This was New Zealand’s most expensive over so far.

Pakistan after 5 overs: 34/1

0, 4, 6, W, 1, 0

The bowling change seems to have worked for New Zealand as Milne took Ahmed Shehzad’s scalp. Shehzad had earlier lobbed Milne for a six and a smashing boundary, before giving away his wicket in an attempt to hit one more six.

Pakistan after 4 overs: 23/0

1, 1, 4, 4, 2, 0

Mohammad Hafeez seems to have taken on Henry, smashing him for two consecutive boundaries and angling a double run at the next ball. Pakistan’s run rate seems to be picking up after a slow start, as the batsmen settle in.

Pakistan after 3 overs: 11/0

0wd, 0, 0, 0, 0, 4, 0

With a boundary to finish the over, Pakistani batsmen are starting to let loose and getting used to the pitch.

Pakistan after 2 overs: 6/0

0wd, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 4

A couple of cautious runs coupled with a much needed boundary in the end, provide Pakistani batsmen with some confidence. Pakistan’s openers seem to be struggling with their running.

Pakistan after 1 over:  0/0

0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0

Henry was on point and kept Mohommad Hafeez restricted, for a maiden. The Pakistani batsman looked cautious and didn’t take any chances.