Matt Henry has taken a hat-trick for New Zealand however nonetheless discovered himself upstaged as Pakistan earned a thumping 88-run victory over a weakened Black Caps facet within the first T20 worldwide of their five-match sequence.
Pakistan celebrated their captain Babar Azam’s a centesimal Twenty20 match on Friday in emphatic type because of quick bowler Haris Rauf’s career-best figures of 4-18.
New Zealand had been bowled out for 94 with greater than 4 overs to spare, shedding their final 5 wickets for under six runs, as they chased a formidable 182.
After Pakistan had elected to bat and made good progress with Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman scoring 47 apiece, Henry loved what he referred to as a “very special” landmark over two separate overs.
He had Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed caught behind by captain Tom Latham on the ultimate two balls of the 13h over, and when he returned for the 18th over, it was so lengthy since he had struck that some teammates did not even bear in mind he was on a hat-trick.
First ball, although, he had Shaheen Shah Afridi caught within the deep, because of Daryl Mitchell’s spectacular effort as he parried the ball again to Chad Bowes on the sector whereas falling over the boundary line.
“He (Henry) was fantastic,” mentioned Latham.
“He was the only one who knew he’d got a hat-trick!”
Still, Henry’s heroics – he completed with 3-32 off his 4 overs – weren’t sufficient to destroy Babar’s huge day.
“I still remember the journey of starting off here as a ball-boy on the sidelines and to now be here, it is a huge honour,” the Pakistan captain mentioned.
His facet had been at full power for the sequence in opposition to the Kiwis however a depleted New Zealand are touring Pakistan for 5 T20s and 5 ODIs with out eight of their frontline gamers, who’re busy within the Indian Premier League.
“Lot of guys have not been here and it is about taking the learnings from this game and adapt quickly,” Latham mentioned.
New Zealand struck early by Adam Milne (2-51) within the powerplay when the quick bowler trapped Mohammad Rizwan (8) leg earlier than wicket and Babar went for an over-ambitious shot on the offside in opposition to the pacer and was bowled for 9.
Left-handers Saim and Fakhar then mixed in an aggressive 79-run stand off 43 balls earlier than Saim was run out as he could not beat Bowes’ direct throw from deep midwicket and fell wanting his crease on the non-striker’s finish.
Fakhar additionally perished earlier than the demise overs when he was caught within the deep whereas making an attempt a sweep in opposition to leg-spinner Ish Sodhi as Pakistan slipped to 6-131.
New Zealand’s inexperienced top-order was rattled by Pakistan’s robust tempo assault with Mark Chapman top-scoring with a chancy 34 however not earlier than Rizwan missed a regulation stumping early in his knock.
Rauf then shortly wrapped up the innings by claiming three wickets in his return spell and left-arm spinner Imad Wasim additionally picked up two wickets off successive deliveries to offer Pakistan an emphatic begin within the sequence.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
