PAK VS NZ 2023: Pakistan Beats New Zealand in T20I Opener. Pakistan’s cricket team marked skipper Babar Azam’s 100th international match in the shortest format by securing an 88-run victory against New Zealand in Lahore on Friday.
Azam managed only nine runs, but Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub each scored 47 runs and anchored Pakistan to a total of 182 all out in 19.5 overs. The partnership of 79 runs for the third wicket helped Pakistan to recover from a poor start after they won the toss and batted.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf, one of five players who returned after being rested in Pakistan’s last series against Afghanistan, recorded career-best figures of 4-18, with left-arm spinner Imad Wasim finishing with 2-2 in his only over, taking both his wickets off successive deliveries. New Zealand, in response, were all out for 94 in 15.3 overs.
Mark Chapman top-scored for New Zealand with a 27-ball 34, inclusive of four boundaries and a six, while skipper Tom Latham made a 24-ball 20. Rauf’s previous best T20 figures of 4-22 had also come against New Zealand in Sharjah in 2021.
Pakistan will play the remaining four matches against New Zealand in Lahore (April 15, 17) and Rawalpindi (April 20 and 24). The win will give Pakistan momentum heading into the rest of the series.
Pak vs NZ 2023: Pakistan Squad
Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman Khan and Shan Masood.
Pak vs NZ 2023 :New Zealand Squad
Tom Latham (captain, wk), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham,Henry Shipley, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, and Will Young.
(Islamabad51-Newsdesk)
