ABU DHABI: Left-arm pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi defended 17 runs in the last over as Pakistan defeated New Zealand by two runs in a thrilling finish to the first Twenty20 international in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
New Zealand needed six off the last delivery to tie the match but experienced batsman Ross Taylor managed just a boundary as New Zealand -- set 149 to win -- finished at 146-6 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
The victory gave world number one ranked Pakistan their seventh consecutive win since July and 15th in 17 Twenty20 internationals this year.
Pakistan, who are on a roll after whitewashing Australia 3-0 in Dubai on Sunday, now have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with the last two matches in Dubai on Friday and Sunday.
Mohammad Hafeez top-scored with 45 in Pakistan´s 148-6 after they won the toss and batted.
Taylor finished with a 26-ball 42 not out with three boundaries but could not keep the run rate down as New Zealand needed 53 in the last five overs.
That was in contrast from the first five overs of their innings, dominated by opener Colin Munro´s 42-ball 58 with three sixes and six boundaries.
Pakistan´s varied bowling, led by Hasan Ali with 3-35, pulled them back significantly.
Munro opened up in style, hiting two sixes and a four off Imad Wasim´s fifth over of the innings before greeting Hasan with a six and a boundary to complete New Zealand´s fifty in just 5.4 overs.
But Pakistan dismissed Glenn Phillips (12), Munro, captain Kane Williamson (11) and Colin de Grandhomme (six) as New Zealand stalled at 89-4.
Earlier, Pakistan lost in-form Babar Azam for seven in the third over while Sahibzada Farhan fell for one as they struggled to 10-2 before Hafeez and Asif Ali (24) lifted them during their 67-run stand for the third wicket.
Hafeez hit five boundaries and a six in his 36-ball knock while Asif´s 21-ball innings had a six and a boundary.
Pakistan managed 81 runs in the last ten overs with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed chipping in with a 26-ball 34 which had three boundaries and a six.
Imad Wasim smashed a six and boundary in the last over to finish with 14 not out while Faheem Ashraf made 10 not out.
For New Zealand, pace bowler Adam Milne finished with 2-28 while Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi and de Grandhomme took a wicket apiece.
End of live coverage
Shaheen Afridi to Taylor, 4 runs
Shaheen Afridi to Taylor, 2 runs
Shaheen Afridi to Taylor, 2 runs
Shaheen Afridi to Southee, 1 run
Shaheen Afridi to Southee, FOUR
Shaheen Afridi to Taylor, 1 run
End of over 19: NZ 132/6
Hasan Ali to Seifert, OUT
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to Taylor, FOUR
Hasan Ali to Anderson, OUT
End of over 18: NZ 123/4
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Taylor, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Taylor, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Taylor, FOUR
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Taylor, 2 runs
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Anderson, 1 leg bye
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Taylor, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Taylor, 1 wide
End of over 17: NZ 112/4
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Anderson, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 2 runs
End of over 16: NZ 103/4
Shadab Khan to Anderson, 2 runs
Shadab Khan to Taylor, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Anderson, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Anderson, 2 runs
Shadab Khan to Anderson, no run
Shadab Khan to Taylor, 1 run
End of over 15: NZ 96/4
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Anderson, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Anderson, no run
Hasan Ali to Anderson, no run
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Taylor, 2 runs
End of over 14: NZ 91/4
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Taylor, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Anderson, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Taylor, OUT, a direct hit from point and CDG is gone. Shadab Khan, you beauty!
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Taylor, no run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Grandhomme, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Grandhomme, 2 runs
End of over 13: NZ 86/3
Imad Wasim to de Grandhomme, 1 leg bye
Imad Wasim to Taylor, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Williamson, OUT, chipped back to Imad, huge huge wicket for Pakistan.
Imad Wasim to Williamson, no run
Imad Wasim to de Grandhomme, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Williamson, 1 run
End of over 12: NZ 82/2
Shadab Khan to de Grandhomme, 2 runs
Shadab Khan to de Grandhomme, no run
Shadab Khan to Williamson, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Munro, OUT, ended up chipping it straight to long-on.
Shadab Khan to Munro, FOUR
Shadab Khan to Williamson, 1 run
End of over 11: NZ 75/1
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, FOUR
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, 2 runs
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Williamson, 1 run
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, 1 run
End of over 10: NZ 66/1
Shadab Khan to Munro, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Munro, no run
Shadab Khan to Williamson, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Williamson, 2 runs
Shadab Khan to Williamson, no run
Shadab Khan to Munro, 1 run
End of over 9: NZ 61/1
Mohammad Hafeez to Williamson, no run,
Mohammad Hafeez to Williamson, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Williamson, 2 runs
Mohammad Hafeez to Williamson, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, 1 run
Mohammad Hafeez to Williamson, 1 run
End of over 8: NZ 57/1
Shadab Khan to Munro, FOUR
Shadab Khan to Munro, no run
Shadab Khan to Munro, no run
Shadab Khan to Williamson, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Williamson, no run
Shadab Khan to Munro, 1 run
End of over 7: NZ 51/1
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, 1 run
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Munro, no run
End of over 6: NZ 50/1
Hasan Ali to Phillips, OUT, bowled
Hasan Ali to Phillips, no run
Hasan Ali to Munro, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Munro, FOUR
Hasan Ali to Munro, SIX
Hasan Ali to Phillips, 1 run
End of over 5: New Zealand 38/0
Imad Wasim to Munro, FOUR
Imad Wasim to Munro, no run
Imad Wasim to Munro, SIX
Imad Wasim to Munro, no run
Imad Wasim to Munro, no run
Imad Wasim to Munro, SIX
End of over 4: New Zealand 22/0
Faheem Ashraf to Phillips, no run
Faheem Ashraf to Phillips, FOUR
Faheem Ashraf to Munro, 1 run
Faheem Ashraf to Munro, FOUR
Faheem Ashraf to Phillips, 1 run
Faheem Ashraf to Phillips, no run
End of over 3: New Zealand 12/0
Imad Wasim to Munro, no run
Imad Wasim to Munro, no run
Imad Wasim to Munro, 2 runs
Imad Wasim to Phillips, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Phillips, no run
Imad Wasim to Munro, 1 run,
End of over 2: New Zealand 8/0
Faheem Ashraf to Phillips, no run
Faheem Ashraf to Phillips, FOUR
Faheem Ashraf to Munro, 1 run,
Faheem Ashraf to Munro, no run
Faheem Ashraf to Munro, no run,
Faheem Ashraf to Munro, no run
End of over 1: New Zealand 3/0
Imad Wasim to Munro, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Phillips, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Phillips, no run
Imad Wasim to Phillips, no run
Imad Wasim to Phillips, no run,
Imad Wasim to Munro, 1 run,
New Zealand 0/0
_______________________________________________________________________
PAKISTAN 123/6 in 18 overs
Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed, OUT, straight up in the air high to Corey Anderson
Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed, SIX
Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed, 1 run
End of over 17: Pakistan 113/4
Southee to Shoaib Malik, no run
Southee to Shoaib Malik, no run
Southee to Sarfraz Ahmed, 1 run
Southee to Sarfraz Ahmed, 2 runs
Southee to Sarfraz Ahmed, FOUR
Southee to Sarfraz Ahmed, no run
End of over 16: Pakistan 106/4
Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed, 1 run
Sodhi to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed, 1 run
Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed, no run
Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed, 2 runs
Sodhi to Sarfraz Ahmed, no run
End of over 15: Pakistan 101/4
de Grandhomme to Sarfraz Ahmed, 1 run
de Grandhomme to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
de Grandhomme to Shoaib Malik, FOUR
de Grandhomme to Sarfraz Ahmed, 1 run
de Grandhomme to Sarfraz Ahmed, 1 wide
Shoaib Malik comes on to bat
Colin to Asif Ali, OUT, magnificent from Glen Phillips, a wicketkeeper.
Colin to Sarfraz, 1 run
End of over 14: Pakistan 92/3
Ajaz Patel to Sarfraz, 1 run
Ajaz Patel to Sarfraz, no run
Ajaz Patel to Sarfraz, no run
Ajaz Patel to Asif Ali, 1 run
Ajaz Patel to Sarfraz, 1 run
Ajaz Patel to Sarfraz, FOUR
End of over 13: Pakistan 85/3
Colin to Sarfraz, 1 run
Colin to Sarfraz, FOUR
Colin to Sarfraz, no run
Colin to Asif, 1 run
Colin to Sarfraz, 1 run
Colin to Sarfraz, no run
End of over 12: Pakistan 72/3
Milne to Asif Ali, no run
Milne to Sarfraz Ahmed, 1 run
Milne to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT, short, and cut away. Tim Southee dives to his left, and pulls off a stunner.
Milne to Mohammad Hafeez, no run
Milne to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR
Milne to Asif Ali, 1 run
End of over 11: Pakistan 72/2
Patel to Asif Ali, 1 run
Patel to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run
Patel to Mohammad Hafeez, SIX
Patel to Asif Ali, 1 run
Patel to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run
Patel to Asif Ali, 1 run, driven down to long on
End of over 10: Pakistan 61/2
Sodhi to Hafeez, no run
Sodhi to Asif Ali, 1 run
Sodhi to Asif Ali, no run
Sodhi to Asif Ali, wide, 1 run
Sodhi to Hafeez, 1 run
Sodhi to Asif Ali, 1 run
Sodhi to Hafeez, 1 run
End of over 9: Pakistan 56/2
Colin to Asif Ali, SIX
Colin Munro to Hafeez, 1 run
Colin Munro to Asif Ali, 1 run
Colin Munro to Hafeez, 1 run
Colin Munro to Hafeez, FOUR
Colin Munro to Hafeez, no run
End of over 8: Pakistan 43/2
Ish Sodhi to Hafeez, 1 run
Ish Sodhi to Asif Ali, 1 run
Ish Sodhi to Hafeez, 1 run
Ish Sodhi to Hafeez, no run
Ish Sodhi to Hafeez, no run
Ish Sodhi to Asif Ali, 1 run
End of over 7: Pakistan 39/2
Colin de Grandhomme to Hafeez, 1 run
Colin de Grandhomme to Asif Ali, 1 run
Colin de Grandhomme to Asif Ali, FOUR
Colin de Grandhomme to Hafeez, 2 runs
Colin de Grandhomme to Hafeez, no run
Colin de Grandhomme to Hafeez, no run
End of over 6: Pakistan 31/2
End of Power Play
Time Southee to Asif Ali, no run
Time Southee to Hafeez, 1 run
Time Southee to Hafeez, SIX, first six of the game. What a fantastic shot! Peddle sweep.
Tim Southee to Hafeez, no run, three dot balls in a row
Tim Southee to Hafeez, no run, good bowling
Tim Southee to Hafeez, no run
End of over 5: Pakistan 32/5
Milne to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run
Milne to Mohammad Hafeez, no run
Mine to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR, what a shot!
Milne to Mohammad Hafeez, no run
Milne to Asif Ali, 1 run
Milne to Asif Ali, FOUR
End of over 4: Pakistan 14/2
Another good over for New Zealand.
Ajaz Patel to Hafeez, no run
Ajaz Patel to Hafeez, FOUR
Ajaz Patel to Hafeez, no run
Ajaz Patel to Hafeez, no run
Ajaz Patel to Hafeez, no run
Mohammad Hafeez comes out to bat
Ajaz Patel to Sahibzada Farhan, OUT, hits straight to Munro. Easy catch.
End of over 3: Pakistan 9/1
Milne to Sahibzada Farhan, 1 run
Milne to Sahibzada Farhan, no run, swing and miss
Milne to Asif Ali, 1 run
Milne to Asif Ali, no run
Asif Ali walks in to bat as Babar falls
Milne to Babar Azam, OUT, big nick and Babar Azam is gone this time. That's a massive wicket for New Zealand.
Milne to Babar Azam, no run
End of over 2: Pakistan 8/0
Time Southee to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Time Southee to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Time Southee to Sahibzada Farhan, OUT, did the ball hit the ground? gone for review, NOT OUT
Time Southee to Babar Azam, 1 run
Time Southee to Babar Azam, 2 runs
Time Southee to Babar Azam, no run
End of over 1: Pakistan 5/0
Ajaz Patel to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Ajaz Patel to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Ajaz Patel to Babar Azam, 1 run
Ajaz Patel to Babar Azam, no run
Ajaz Patel to Babar Azam, no run
Ajaz Patel to Babar Azam, FOUR
National anthems of two teams being played at the stadium.
ABU DHABI - Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and elected to bat first vs New Zealand in the first Twenty20 International at Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
New Zealand have picked Tim Seifert as wicketkeeper, as well as Glenn Phillips, both of whom were among a number of players who were part of the A squad that faced Pakistan A.
Pakistan have brought in Shaheen Afridi for Usman Khan as the second seamer. Fakhar Zaman continues to sit out with knee injury.
Squads
Pakistan XI: Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi
New Zealand XI: Glenn Phillips, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (capt), Colin de Grandhomme, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Tim Seifert (wk), Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel
After thrashing Australia 3-0 in the recently concluded Twenty20 International series, Pakistan will look to continue their domination in the format when they play New Zealand in the opening match of the three-match series here on Wednesday (today).
The match will be covered live here.
Pakistan seem to have mastered the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket under Sarfraz Ahmed, who has captained them to 26 wins in 30 matches. They are top of the ICC T20I Team Rankings and will be chasing their 11th successive series win.
ICC Preview: New Zealand will be without Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner, but even in their absence, they will look to exploit Pakistan’s perceived batting weakness, with Ish Sodhi, the leg-spinner, being joined by the uncapped Ajaz Patel, the left-arm spinner, along with the pacemen – Tim Southee, Adam Milne and Corey Anderson, who impressed in New Zealand A’s clashes against Pakistan A. With the bat, New Zealand will be without the big presence of Martin Guptill – he has a calf injury – but Glenn Phillips, the wicket-keeper batsman, has been added to the side, and will hope to use his big-hitting abilities to good affect, alongside Colin Munro, who said he was relishing being back with New Zealand again. Despite that, it'll be a tough series for New Zealand, especially given they haven’t played an international match since April in England. But Pakistan’s have their chinks. This should be a fine series.
The hosts were head and shoulders above Australia in their three matches and kept them to scores below 140 each time.Leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who claimed six wickets against Australia, can be a handful for New Zealand.
Imad Wasim is usually a fine support act, and given that newbie paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi has adapted well, New Zealand batsmen are expected to face a tough challenge.Pakistan have stuck with the same squad that whitewashed Australia. While they may juggle between Usman Khan and Shaheen for the role of the second seamer, there are not many changes expected. Opener Fakhar Zaman remains out with knee pain.
New Zealand will be without Trent Boult (paternity leave) and Mitchell Santner (knee injury), but even in their absence, they will look to exploit Pakistan’s perceived batting weakness with leg-spinner Ish Sodhi being joined by the uncapped left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, along with pacemen Tim Southee, Adam Milne and Corey Anderson.
With the bat, New Zealand will be without the big presence of Martin Guptill who has a calf injury. But Glenn Phillips, the wicket-keeper batsman, has been added to the side and will hope to use his big-hitting abilities to good effect, alongside Colin Munro, who is relishing being back with New Zealand again.
New Zealand have not played an international match since April in England.The forecast is partly cloudy. With the games being held at night, dew is also expected to play a role.
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