New Zealand romp to nine-wicket win in first Pakistan T20

Christchurch, New Zealand: Pakistan slumped to a nine-wicket defeat in the first Twenty20 against New Zealand in Christchurch on Sunday after failing to defend a meagre score of 91.

The tourists began the five-match series in disastrous fashion, reduced to 11-4 at the end of the fifth over after towering paceman Kyle Jamieson ran amok with the new ball. They were eventually dismissed for their lowest score in a T20 on New Zealand soil and the home side romped to 92-1 off just 10.1 overs.

Jamieson claimed three of the first four wickets to finish with 3-8 off four overs. New ball partner Jacob Duffy returned later in the innings to sweep up the tail and, like Jamieson, claimed career-best T20 figures -- 4-14 off 3.4 overs.

“We had some pretty favourable conditions,” player of the match Jamieson said of the Hagley Oval pitch which offered early movement. “Myself and Duff, I´m sure we would take that pitch with us most places around the country if we could.

“You keep the seam upright and hit the deck and just let the conditions do the work.” Pakistan never recovered from their top-order collapse, with only three players reaching double figures. New captain Salman Agha scored 18 and put on 46 for the fifth wicket with top-scorer Khushdil Shah, who struck three sixes in his 32 off 30 balls.

Jahandad Khan scored 17 at a run-a-ball before the innings ended with eight balls still to be bowled. Pakistan´s previous lowest T20 score in New Zealand was 101 in a 95-run loss in Wellington in 2016.

Opener Tim Seifert got New Zealand off to a flying start with 44 off 29 balls, striking seven fours and one six. Finn Allen on 29 and Tim Robinson on 18 completed the chase off the first ball of the 11th over.

Agha said Pakistan would need to adapt to what could be green conditions again for the second match in Dunedin on Tuesday. “It was obviously difficult, they were bowling in the right area and there was swing and seam for them as well,” he said.

“But we didn´t bat up to the mark. “Always in New Zealand, the new ball does a bit and we have the bowlers who can do that too. “We don´t have much time. We need to regather as quickly as we can.”

New Zealand won the toss

Pakistan (20 overs maximum)

Haris c Hay b Jamieson 0

Hasan c Jamieson b Duffy 0

Salman (c) c Seifert b Sodhi 18

Irfan c Hay b Jamieson 1

Shadab c Robinson b Jamieson 3

Khushdil c Allen b Duffy 32

Abdul c Bracewell b Sodhi 7

Jahandad c Bracewell b Foulkes 17

Shaheen c Hay b Duffy 1

Abrar c Bracewell b Duffy 2

Mohammad not out 1

Extras: (lb 3, w 6) 9

Total: 18.4 Ov 91

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-1, 4-11, 5-57, 6-64, 7-80, 8-85, 9-89 , 10-91

Bowling: Kyle Jamieson 4-1-8-3, Jacob Duffy 3.4-0-14-4, Zakary Foulkes 3-0-11-1, Michael Bracewell 4-0-28-0, Ish

Sodhi 4-0-27-2

New Zealand (T: 92 runs from 20 ovs)

Tim c Haris b Abrar 44

Finn Allen not out 29

Tim Robinson not out 18

Extras: (lb 1) 1

Total: 10.1 overs 92/1

Did not bat: Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay, Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy

Fall of wickets: 1-53

Bowling: Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-0-17-0, Mohammad Ali 3-0-25-0, Jahandad Khan 1-0-16-0, Abrar Ahmed 2.1-0-15-1, Shadab Khan 2-0-18-0

Result: New Zealand won by 9 wickets

Player of the match: Kyle Jamieson

Umpires: Sam Nogajski, Wayne Knights