Pakistan celebrated skipper Babar Azam’s 100th international match in the shortest format with a clinical 88-run win in the first Twenty20 against New Zealand in Lahore on Friday. Azam failed with just nine runs but Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub scored 47 runs each and put on a 79-run partnership for the third wicket to anchor Pakistan to 182 all out in 19.5 overs.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf, one of five players who returned after being rested in Pakistan’s last series against Afghanistan, took career-best figures of 4-18 as New Zealand were 94 all out in 15.3 overs. Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim finished with 2-2 in his only over, taking both his wickets off successive deliveries.
Mark Chapman top-scored with 27-ball 34 inclusive of four boundaries and a six while skipper Tom Latham made 24-ball 20. Rauf’s previous best T20 figures of 4-22 had also come against New Zealand in Sharjah in 2021.
“The pitch was assisting the bowlers so it was a good batting performance to get that total and then our complete bowling unit was excellent,” said Azam, happy at reaching a personal landmark.
I had never expected this. I still remember the journey of starting off here as a ball-boy on the side-lines, and to now be here, it is a huge honour,” said Azam of serving as a ball-boy during the 2007 series against South Africa. The remaining four matches are in Lahore on April 15 and April 17 and Rawalpindi on April 20 and 24.
Source: eNCA
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