Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy debut for Pakistan in T20 ends in a 46-run defeat against New Zealand. Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson’s impressive performances lead New Zealand to a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
In the series opener in Auckland, New Zealand asserted its dominance with a commanding 46-run victory over Pakistan, marking Shaheen Afridi’s debut as Pakistan’s T20 captain. Despite Shaheen’s efforts, including claiming three wickets and promoting himself in the batting order. New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Opting to bat first, New Zealand posted a formidable total of 226/8. Daryl Mitchell played a crucial role, contributing 61 off 27 balls, while captain Kane Williamson showcased his batting prowess with a brisk 57.
Shaheen Afridi had a mixed outing, dismissing Devon Conway with the second ball but conceding 24 runs in his second over. Despite Shaheen’s efforts, including removing Mitchell and dismissing Adam Milne, he finished with expensive figures of 3/46. Debutant Abbas Afridi was the standout performer among Pakistan bowlers, claiming 3/34.
In response, Pakistan’s chase was anchored by Babar Azam, who scored 57. However, Tim Southee’s impressive bowling, backed by sharp catching from the New Zealand team, restricted Pakistan to 180 in 18 overs. Shaheen Afridi’s promotion to number seven did not yield success as he fell for a duck.
New Zealand’s disciplined bowling, led by Southee’s 4/25, proved decisive in securing the victory. Hamilton will host the second match of the series on Sunday. Spinner Mitch Santner was unavailable for New Zealand after testing positive for COVID-19 and will return home for isolation.
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