AUCKLAND: New Zealand has defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in the first T20.
The team had given New Zealand a target of 154 runs. New Zealand scored 154 runs in the 19th over. Their captain Mitchell Center scored the last six to give the team the victory.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf took 3 wickets and Shaheen Afridi took 2 wickets. Abdullah Shafiq and Mohammad Hafeez without any value the Pavilion returned. Mohammad Rizwan 17 runs to score to the following catch- handed.
The national team scored 99 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 15 overs. Shadab Khan 42, Emad Wasim 19, Fahim Ashraf 31, Wahab Riaz 9, Shaheen Afraid 10, and Haris Rauf remained unbeaten on zero runs.
Captain Babar Azam is not part of the series due to injury. A 15-member squad of the national team under the captaincy of Shadab has been announced for the match. Sarfraz Ahmed is part of the squad, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez, and Wahab Riaz are also on the team. Abdullah Shafiq, Haider Ali, Fahim Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Emad Wasim, and Khushdal Shah have been made part of the squad.
Read more: Half of Pakistan cricket team out within 50 runs
Muhammad Hasnain, Shaheen Afridi, and Hussain Talat are also in the 15-member squad. Musa Khan and Usman Qadir are not part of the squad but will be with the team.
New Zealand will host 3 T20 and 2 Test matches against Pakistan. The first T20 match between the two teams will be played on December 18 in Auckland. The second match will be played on December 20 in Hamilton, the third and final match on December 22 in Napier. The first Test between the two teams will be played in Turanga from December 26 to 30. The second and final Test will be played in Christchurch from January 3 to January 7.
