Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi help Pakistan post 171 against New Zealand in 1st T20I in Auckland
Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi help Pakistan post 171 against New Zealand in 1st T20I in Auckland
Pakistan Post decent 171/8 after starting off weakly as New Zealand do exceptionally well with the ball in the series opener of the home series at Eden Park, Auckland. The Pakistan innings started with a maiden over from Matt Henry and Adam Milne continued it with an early wicket. Milne removed Ahmed Shehzad for a mere 16 off 14 after a slow start from Pakistan which increased more tension in the Pak camp. Wickets kept as Sohaib Maqsood departed for a duck and next in Shoaib Malik followed him after making 18-ball 20. From the very start, Pakistan batsmen looked uncomfortable exposed to the New Zealand bowling but finally managed to comeback well and post 171 LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: New Zealand vs Pakistan, 1st T20I at Auckland
On the contrary, it was Mohammad Hafeez who showed his class. Hafeez stayed at the crease while other Pak batsmen kept on throwing their wickets and played a commendable knock of 61 off 47. The innings had eight 8 and 2 big sixes in it. Adam Milne finally removed Hafeez as Todd Astley took a brilliant catch at the backward square leg. After Hafeez departed, it was Shahid ‘Boom-boom’ Afridi who did the destruction. Afridi hit Matt Henry all over the ground scoring 21 runs off 5 balls in his over and changed the course of the game entirely. Afridi got out scoring 23 off 8 and was well supported by Umar Akmal who played a sensible knock of 24 off 14. Meanwhile, Mohammad Hafeez became the sixth highest run-getter in T20Is and the highest run-getter from Pakistan. Live Blog: New Zealand vs Pakistan 2016, 1st T20I at Auckland
Amongst the bowlers, Adam Milne remained the most successful as he took 4 wickets in total, removing both the openers and Akmal. While Mitchell Santner came in handy taking 2 wickets and giving 14 runs maintaining a brilliant economy of 3.50. Trent Boult failed to do up to the mark taking only one wicket. A disastrous decision came from the kiwi skipper as he sent Corey Anderson to bowl and he conceded 18 runs in that over making it one of the costliest overs of the innings. Matt Henry took a solitary wicket and bowled the only maiden over of the innings.
Brief Scores:
Pakistan 171/8( Mohammad Hafeez 61, Shahid Afridi 23; Adam Milne 4 for 37) against New Zealand
(Paulami Chakraborty, a singer, dancer, artist, and photographer, loves the madness of cricket and writes about the game. She can be followed on Twitter at @Polotwitts)