LAHORE: Left-handed batter Saim Ayub scored a quickfire 47 before Haris Rauf’s four-for propelled Pakistan to a resounding 88-run victory over New Zealand in the first T20I of the five-match series here at Gaddafi Stadium.
Set to chase 183, the New Zealand batting lineup failed completely and bundled out for a meagre 94 runs in the 15th over and hence handed a dominating victory to Pakistan.
Pakistan’s pacers forced a deplorable start to New Zealand’s pursuit as they picked up three quick wickets to leave the touring side reeling for just 29 runs inside the batting powerplay.
Following the slump, New Zealand skipper Tom Latham and Mark Chapman looked to settle things as they stitched a gritty 27-run partnership before Haris Rauf broke the budding partnership by dismissing Latham, who could score 20 off 24.
Chapman looked to counterattack by taking Shadab Khan to the cleaners after Latham’s dismissal but his domination was shortlived as he perished in the same over.
He top-scored for New Zealand with a 27-ball 34, which featured four boundaries and a six.
Pakistan’s bowlers then came out roaring after Chapman’s dismissal and soon bundled out the touring side for a modest total; showcasing a combined effort.
Haris led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 4/18 while Imad bagged two. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman Khan, Shadab and Faheem Ashraf, on the other hand, made one scalp each.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan managed to accumulate 182 at the back of an anchoring and quickfire knock by Fakhar and Saim respectively.
Earlier, the home side got off to a dismal start as their dependable opening pair of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan perished cheaply.
New Zealand’s right-arm speedster Adam Milne trapped Rizwan (8) with a couple of out-swingers before hitting his pads plumb to draw the first success for New Zealand in the second over.
The right-arm pacer kept using his pace to pose threats to the host’s batters and eventually claimed the prized scalp of skipper Babar Azam; castling the latter on seven.
With Pakistan reeling at 30/2 in the fifth over, Fakhar and Saim turned the tables on the touring side and stitched a valiant 79-run partnership to anchor the innings.
Saim was the core aggressor of the stand while Fakhar was holding his ground firm before a direct hit by Chad Bowes saw the end of the former’s brisk knock. Saim fell just three short of his half-century; scoring 47 off just 28 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and two sixes.
His dismissal sparked a middle-order collapse which resulted in Pakistan slipping to 131/6 with Fakhar being the latest to walk back. He remained the joint top-scorer for the home side as he too, scored 47 runs in 34 deliveries, hitting six boundaries and two sixes.
All-rounders Imad Wasim (16) and Faheem Ashraf (22) made vital contributions with the bat while Haris Rauf’s astonishing cameo of 11 runs at the backend bolstered Pakistan to a decent total.
Matt Henry led the bowling attack for New Zealand with a hat-trick while Adam Milne and Ben Lister picked up two wickets each.
