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Tim Southee-led New Zealand side faced a tough challenge from hosts United Aram Emirates (UAE) in the first of three-T20I series at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After facing a middle-order collapse, the Kiwis were tested by an 18-year-old debutant but James Neesham's economical spell and skipper Southee's fifer helped them win the match by 19 runs.
Seifert attacks
New Zealand got an early jolt when Junaid Siddique got the wicket of Chad Bowes off the first ball. Then Tim Seifert went on a rampage while all Dane Cleaver could do was rotate strike or play dot balls. On the last ball of the powerplay overs, Zahoor Khan got the wicket of Cleaver for a single-digit score. Meanwhile, New Zealand had 51/2 on the board after six overs. In the next over, Seifert got to his half-century from 30 balls.
Kiwis struggle in middle overs
Basil Hameed in his first over got the prized wicket of Seifert. He scored 55 runs from 34 balls including two fours and three sixes. Then Mitchell Santner got bowled after scoring just two runs. At the halfway stage, New Zealand were 73/4. Boundaries dried up for a few overs. Mark Chapman succumbed to the pressure and lost his wicket to Mohammed Faraazuddin. He scored 15 runs from 18 balls. Neesham tried to get going with a couple of boundaries. Siddique returned to the attack and dismissed Neesham for a 22-ball 25.
The next few overs were quiet. In the final over, Rachin Ravindra hit Ali Naseer for a six. Cole McConchie hit a boundary as well. Naseer conceded 15 runs from the last over as New Zealand posted 155/6 in the first innings.
Debutant leading the way
In the run chase, UAE lost their opener off the first ball as well. Tim Southee trapped Muhammad Waseem in front of the stumps. In the third over, Vriitya Aravind hit two fours. But he paid the price for over-attacking and lost his wicket to Southee. Then Aryansh took control of the run chase and hit Ben Lister for three consecutive fours. He hit Santner for a six as well. Kyle Jamieson took a beating too as he conceded 15 runs in the sixth over. UAE were 59/2 after powerplay overs.
Neesham changes the game
Santner came back into the attack and got the wicket of Santner. Aryansh did not let the wicket affect the scoring rate. After 10 overs, UAE had 84/3 on the board. Neesham was introduced into the attack and he delivered with the wicket of Ansh Tandon. In the 12th over, Aryansh reached his maiden T20I fifty from 34 balls. Southee brought himself back into the attack to dismiss Basil Hameed. Aryansh succumbed to the pressure as too many wickets fell from the other end. Neesham got the opener's wicket. He scored 60 runs from 43 balls including nine fours and one six.
Kiwis’ experience pays off
After Aryansh's wicket, UAE needed 41 runs from 30 balls. But there was no batter who could pose a threat to the Kiwi bowling attack. Santner finished his spell with the wicket of Naseer in the 17th over. Southee in the penultimate over struck twice to rule out any chance of a comeback. 22 runs were needed off the last over and it was too big a task for tailenders to pull off. UAE got all out for 136 with two balls left in the innings and lost the match by 19 runs.
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