Tag: New Zealand

NAPIER: A commanding century from Mark Chapman, coupled with Nathan Smith’s four-wicket haul, powered New Zealand to a convincing 73-run victory over Pakistan in the first ODI of the three-match series here at McLean Park on Saturday.

Chasing a daunting 345-run target, Pakistan faltered under the pressure of New Zealand’s pace attack, folding for 271 in 44.1 overs.

Pakistan’s chase began on a promising note as debutant Usman Khan and Abdullah Shafique put together a brisk 83-run opening stand.

Both batters looked aggressive, setting a solid platform before Nathan Smith broke the partnership in the 13th over, removing Usman for 39. Skipper Michael Bracewell then dismissed Abdullah for 36 in the 16th over, reducing Pakistan to 88-2.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan attempted to rebuild with a 76-run partnership, keeping hopes alive. However, debutant Muhammad Abbas struck in the 29th over to dismiss Rizwan for 30, leaving Pakistan at 164-3.

Babar, showing his trademark composure, anchored the innings with Salman Ali Agha in an 89-run stand.

The former captain reached his 36th ODI fifty, scoring a fluent 78, but his dismissal in the 39th over to Will O’Rourke tilted the momentum firmly in New Zealand’s favor.

Pakistan’s collapse began soon after as Tayyab Tahir was run out in the 40th over, followed by a golden duck for Irfan Khan Niazi.

Smith then returned to clean up the tail, dismissing Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf in the 43rd over.

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Salman held on to his end for a well-fought 58 before falling prey to Jacob Duffy, while Smith dismissed Akif Javed to wrap things up, as Pakistan fell short by a significant margin.

Smith was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand, finishing with 4-60 in 8.1 overs. Duffy took two wickets, while Bracewell, Abbas, and O’Rourke chipped in with one apiece.

Earlier, New Zealand, after being put into bat by Pakistan, suffered early blows. Debutant Akif Javed made an instant impact, dismissing Will Young for 1 in the third over before removing Nick Kelly (15) and Henry Nicholls (11), reducing the hosts to 50-3 in 12.4 overs.

However, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell then turned the tide, counterattacking with a crucial 100-run partnership. Chapman played the aggressor, reaching his second ODI century in the 38th over with a flurry of boundaries, smashing 11 fours and four sixes.

Mitchell played a supporting role with a well-crafted 76 before falling to Irfan Niazi. Their 199-run stand had already placed New Zealand in a commanding position by then.

Chapman’s career-best 132 powered the hosts towards a massive total before Haris Rauf and Niazi picked up late wickets to dent the lower order.

But a blistering 50 off just 24 balls from debutant Muhammad Abbas ensured New Zealand crossed the 300-run mark with ease.

Pakistan’s bowlers had their moments, with Niazi finishing as the most successful bowler (3-51), while Rauf and Akif Javed picked up two wickets each. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Ali grabbed one apiece.

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WELLINGTON: James Neesham claimed a five-wicket haul, while Tim Seifert played an unbeaten knock of 97 runs to help New Zealand thump Pakistan in the final match of the five-match T20I series here at Sky Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a paltry 129-run target, New Zealand successfully chased down the total in 10 overs after losing two wickets to win the series 4-1.

Seifert led New Zealand’s charge with the bat, smashing 97 runs from 38 balls, which featured ten sixes and six boundaries.

Seifert and Finn Allen (27) stitched a 93-run opening stand to put the home team in the driving seat before Sufiyan Muqeem provided Pakistan with the first breakthrough.

Sufiyan added another wicket to his tally as he removed Mark Chapman (3).

Daryl Mitchell (2*) joined Seifert, and they comfortably steered their side to a thumping eight-wicket victory.

New Zealand invited Pakistan to bat first after winning the toss, and Jacob Duffy drew first blood with the wicket of Hasan Nawaz (0) in the second over.

Ben Sears removed Mohammad Haris, who scored a scratchy 11 off 17, bringing Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha to the crease.

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Meanwhile, Duffy dismissed Omair Bin Yousuf (7) to leave the Green Shirts reeling at 25-3 inside the power play.

Salman remained unfazed on his end as he lost two more partners before vice-captain Shadab Khan joined him and added 54 runs for the sixth wicket.

James Neesham broke the budding stand with the wicket of Shadab, who scored 28 runs from 20 deliveries with the help of five boundaries.

New batter Jahandad Khan (1) also fell prey to Neesham in the same over, leaving Pakistan struggling at 108-7.

Salman top-scored for Pakistan with a 39-ball 51, laced with seven boundaries, including one six, before becoming Neesham’s fourth victim.

Sufiyan Muqeem was also snared in the same over by Neesham, who claimed his career-best bowling figures of 5-22.

Haris Rauf (6) remained unbeaten as Pakistan managed to reach 128-9 in their allocated 20 over against a dominant New Zealand attack.

Besides Neesham’s five-wicket haul, Duffy claimed two wickets for the Black Caps, while Ben Sears and Ish Sodhi each bagged one.

New Zealand XI: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitch Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke

Pakistan XI: Salman Ali Agha (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Omair Bin Yousuf, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Ali

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Pace bowler Matt Henry has been officially ruled out of the remainder of the T20I series against Pakistan, as confirmed by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Saturday.

Henry, who sustained the right-shoulder injury during the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final win against South Africa, has also been managing an ongoing left knee issue.

Although initially included in the squad for the series, he will now focus on rehabilitation instead of playing the remaining matches.

Zakary Foulkes, who was initially selected for the first three matches, has been retained for the final two T20Is to replace Matt Henry.

The young pacer has shown glimpses of his potential, returning figures of 1 for 11 in three overs during the first T20I, followed by none for 32 in the second match.

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In another change, Kyle Jamieson has been omitted from the squad for the remaining matches.

The towering pacer was named Player of the Match in the first T20I after a stellar 3 for 8 performance but struggled in the third game, conceding 54 runs without taking a wicket, a match that saw Pakistan secure their first win of the series.

To bolster their pace attack, Will O’Rourke, who was initially part of the squad for only the first three games, has now been added to the squad for the final two matches in place of Jamieson.

New Zealand currently leads the five-match series 2-1 against Pakistan. The fourth T20I is set to take place on Sunday in Mount Maunganui, followed by the final match on Wednesday in Wellington.

New Zealand squad for the remainder of the T20I series against Pakistan

Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mitchell Hay (wk), Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk), Mark Chapman, Zakary Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi.

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AUCKLAND: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has reflected on his team’s thumping nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third T20I of the five-match series at Eden Park on Friday.

Pakistan opted to field first after winning the toss and bundled New Zealand for 204 despite a quick-fire knock of 94 runs by Mark Chapman.

In response, the Green Shirts chased the target in 16 overs, courtesy of Hasan Nawaz’s unbeaten century as well as captain Salman’s unbeaten half-century and Mohammad Haris’ 41.

Pakistan’s skipper praised his team-mates while emphasising the need to back youngsters to get out the best performance from them.

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“Outstanding performance. A proper game we played, the bowlers started really well and then the two youngsters batted really well,” he said after the match.

“If you back the youngsters, they will do well like today. 200 is a par score on this wicket, and I just said to the guys we can chase this down if you bat well.”

Salman Ali Agha also acknowledged the importance of this match to keep the series alive, having suffered back-to-back losses in the first two games.

“It was do or die and we just wanted to go out and enjoy ourselves today. Looking forward to the next game as well,” he added.

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Pakistan squad has departed for Auckland from Dunedin earlier today to partake in the third match of the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand, scheduled to be played on March 21.

The Green Shirts will undergo a practice session under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff at Eden Park tomorrow from 2 PM to 5 PM local time.

The players will engage in specialised drills, focusing on sharpening their batting, bowling, and overall fitness to fine-tune their skills as they look to bounce back from back-to-back defeats.

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For the unversed, after a crushing nine-wicket loss in the first T20I, Pakistan failed to defend 135 runs in the rain-affected second match, which was reduced to 15 overs per side.

It’s worth noting that following the third T20I, Pakistan and New Zealand will play the final two matches of the series in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on March 23 and 26, respectively.

Following the conclusion of the T20I series, the two sides will face off in a three-match ODI series. The first ODI is set for March 29 in Napier, followed by the second on April 2 in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the third and final match on April 5.

Pakistan T20I squad for New Zealand tour

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

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DUNEDIN: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha acknowledged his team’s improvement in the second T20I against New Zealand but admitted that key areas still need work following a five-wicket defeat at University Oval here on Tuesday.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Agha noted that despite falling 2-0 behind in the series, there were positives to take from the game, particularly in the batting and fielding departments.

“It was freezing. But compared to the last game, this was a much better performance. We batted well, and our fielding was outstanding. The bowling had its moments too, but we need to adjust to the different bounce here,” Agha remarked.

Pakistan’s bowling struggled early on, as New Zealand’s openers ran riot during the powerplay. However, the skipper credited Haris Rauf and the rest of the attack for pulling things back later in the innings.

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“After the powerplay, we bowled well, and Haris was exceptional. But as a unit, we need to be better in the powerplay—both while bowling and batting,” he added.

After a crushing nine-wicket loss in the first T20I, Pakistan failed to defend 135 runs in the rain-affected second match, which was reduced to 15 overs per side. With the series now slipping away, Salman Ali Agha and his men have a lot to address before the third T20I.

It’s worth noting that the third T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played in Auckland on March 21, while the final two matches are scheduled in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on March 23 and 26, respectively.

Following the conclusion of the T20I series, the two sides will face off in a three-match ODI series. The first ODI is set for March 29 in Napier, followed by the second on April 2 in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the third and final match on April 5.

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DUNEDIN: New Zealand secured a commanding five-wicket win over a struggling Pakistan team in a rain-affected second T20I at the University Oval here on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing 136, the home team made light work of the target, thanks to an explosive 66-run opening stand between Tim Seifert and Finn Allen.

Seifert came out swinging, finding boundaries at will before falling for a blistering 45 off 22 balls—his dismissal bringing Mohammad Ali his maiden T20I wicket.

Allen, meanwhile, continued the onslaught, adding 21 runs with Mark Chapman before Jahandad Khan sent him packing for a 16-ball 38, leaving New Zealand at 87-2 in just 6.5 overs.

Pakistan found some respite as Mark Chapman (1) fell cheaply to Khushdil Shah, while Haris Rauf dismissed Jimmy Neesham (14), reducing New Zealand to 97-4 in 8.3 overs.

However, Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Hay’s 35-run stand for the fifth wicket ensured there were no hiccups in the chase.

auf removed Mitchell (14) at the brink of victory, but skipper Michael Bracewell and Hay (21) finished things off comfortably with 11 balls to spare.

For Pakistan, Haris Rauf picked up two wickets, while Mohammad Ali, Khushdil Shah, and Jahandad Khan took one each.

Earlier, Pakistan’s batting frailties were once again exposed after rain reduced the match to 15 overs, as they crawled to 135 after being put into bat.

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The innings started in disastrous fashion with Hasan Nawaz falling for his second consecutive duck, dismissed by Jacob Duffy in the first over.

Mohammad Haris’ poor run continued as well, as Ben Sears removed him for 11, leaving Pakistan reeling at 19-2 in 3.1 overs.

Captain Agha Salman (46) and Irfan Khan (11) stitched a brief 31-run stand, but just as Pakistan looked to settle, Ish Sodhi struck in the seventh over, removing Irfan as well as new batter Khushdil Shah (2) in quick succession to reduce Pakistan to 52-4.

Despite the setbacks, Agha counterattacked, while vice-captain Shadab Khan chipped in with 24 runs before falling to Sears. Agha’s dismissal only worsened Pakistan’s woes, and Shadab, after briefly accelerating the innings, perished for 26 off 14, undone by Duffy.

The tail offered little resistance as Jahandad Khan fell for a duck, while Abdul Samad’s 11-run cameo was cut short by Neesham.

It was left to Shaheen Afridi (22) to provide some late fireworks, pushing Pakistan to a modest 135 in their allocated 15 overs.

For New Zealand, Duffy, Sears, Sodhi, and Neesham picked up two wickets each, ensuring Pakistan never got any momentum.

It’s worth noting that the third T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played in Auckland on March 21, while the final two matches are scheduled in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on March 23 and 26, respectively.

Following the conclusion of the T20I series, the two sides will face off in a three-match ODI series. The first ODI is set for March 29 in Napier, followed by the second on April 2 in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the third and final match on April 5.

Pakistan XI: Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Agha Salman (c), Irfan Khan, Shadab Khan, Abdul Samad, Khushdil Shah, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali.

New Zealand XI: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has criticized Shadab Khan for his underwhelming performance in the first T20I against New Zealand, questioning the merit behind his selection in the squad.

Shadab, who made his comeback in the series as the vice-captain, had a forgettable outing in the series opener, scoring just 3 runs and failing to pick up a wicket in his two-over spell.

Speaking on a private TV channel, Ahmed Shehzad didn’t hold back in his assessment, demanding clarity on what warranted Shadab’s place in the squad.

“You’re talking about Shadab [Khan], but tell me, what performance has he put up? Who brought him onto the team? Let this series pass; the PCB has a different plan, and Shadab has been included in the team for a specific purpose,” Shehzad remarked.

Pakistan’s young squad suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the series opener at Hagley Oval on Sunday.

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After being put in to bat first, Pakistan endured a nightmare start as openers Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz were dismissed for ducks. The collapse continued with Irfan Khan managing just a single run before his departure, leaving Pakistan reeling at 1/3 in 2.2 overs.

Khushdil Shah (32 off 34) and captain Salman Ali Agha (18 off 22) were the only batters to show some resistance, but their efforts were far from enough. Pakistan were bowled out for just 91 runs in 18.4 overs, marking their fifth-lowest total in T20Is.

New Zealand made light work of the chase, hunting down the target in just 12.1 overs, with 59 balls to spare—making this Pakistan’s worst defeat in terms of balls remaining in T20I history.

Their previous worst was against Australia in 2018, where they suffered a nine-wicket loss with 55 balls to spare.

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Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has thrown his support behind senior pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, emphasizing their importance in the team’s quest for success in the five-match series against New Zealand, scheduled to commence tomorrow.

Shaheen and Haris have been under fire lately due to their below-par performances in Pakistan’s disastrous ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.

Consequently, they lost their place in the ODI squad for New Zealand, however, they were named in the T20I squad.

Salman Ali Agha, during the press conference ahead of the first T20I in Christchurch, acknowledged the recent form fluctuations of the experienced duo but remained confident in their ability to step up for Pakistan.

“Shaheen and Haris have been outstanding bowlers for Pakistan. Yes, form and performances go up and down in every cricketer’s career, but I believe both of them have a key role to play in this series,” he stated.

The 31-year-old, leading a relatively young squad, emphasized that the team is not in New Zealand just to experiment but to win.

“Fans are disappointed because we haven’t played the kind of cricket they expect from us. In fact, we haven’t even played the way we expect from ourselves. But just because we have a young side doesn’t mean it’s not a strong one. We are here to win,” Salman asserted.

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Pakistan’s squad for the series has seen some significant changes, with several senior players being rested.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who have been key to Pakistan’s T20I setup for years, are not part of the squad as the selectors aim to test new combinations. Salman admitted that their absence is notable but stressed the importance of looking forward.

“There is no doubt that Babar and Rizwan have been exceptional for Pakistan, but for this series, we are trying to build a new combination,” he added.

“Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub will also be missed—they are match-winners on their day. But, Alhamdulillah, their injury progress is positive, and hopefully, they will return for the next series.”

The Pakistan captain further explained that the team is focused on long-term goals, including the Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026.

“This series, and the ones coming up, are all part of our preparation for these major tournaments. We want to form a strong squad that can compete at the highest level in the coming years,” Salman remarked.

Pakistan T20I squad for New Zealand tour

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

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CHRISTCHURCH: The Pakistan cricket team hit the ground running on Friday with their first training session after arriving here a day earlier as they gear up for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, set to begin on March 16.

The session took place at Hagley Oval, where the players underwent an intense practice session under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff.

Focused on sharpening their batting, bowling, and overall fitness, the players engaged in a series of drills designed to fine-tune their skills ahead of the highly anticipated series.

The session began with warm-up exercises and fitness drills before the squad transitioned into specialized training aimed at enhancing match readiness.

Pakistan will continue their preparations tomorrow, with the next training session scheduled to begin at 1 PM local time.

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Notably, Pakistan T20I squad landed in Christchurch on Thursday to participate in the five-match series against New Zealand.

Led by newly appointed captain Salman Ali Agha, the squad took a day to rest before hitting the nets today to fine-tune their preparations.

Pakistan’s white-ball tour of New Zealand will kick off with the first T20I in Christchurch on March 16. The team will then travel to Dunedin for the second game on March 18.

The third T20I will be played in Auckland on March 21, while the final two matches are scheduled in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on March 23 and 26, respectively.

Following the conclusion of the T20I series, the two sides will face off in a three-match ODI series. The first ODI is set for March 29 in Napier, followed by the second on April 2 in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the third and final match on April 5.

Pakistan squads for New Zealand tour

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir.

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