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The new-look Pakistan side led by Agha Salman faced flak for looking out of place in the first T20I of the series. But, after two ducks, opener Hasan Nawaz smashed his maiden T20I century to steer visitors to a comfortable nine-wicket in the run chase of 205 with four overs to spare at Eden Park, Auckland. He had support from captain Salman's unbeaten half-century and Mohammad Haris' 20-ball 41. Nawaz recorded the fastest T20I century by a Pakistan batter breaking Babar Azam's record..
Chapman's big knock
Earlier, Salman won the toss and opted to bowl first. Shaheen Afridi struck with the new ball and got rid of Finn Allen for a three-ball duck. Tim Seifert continued his rich vein of form and hit Abrar Ahmed for two sixes and a four. Mark Chapman was promoted up the order and he did not take much time to settle as he targetted Abrar as well. Haris Rauf ended Seifert's stay at the crease. The opener scored 19 runs from nine balls. New Zealand were 58/2 after the powerplay overs.
Chapman reached his fifty from 29 balls in the ninth over. Shadab Khan got the breakthrough with Daryl Mitchell's wicket in the 10th over. He scored 17 runs from 11 balls. While Chapman continued to attack, James Neesham departed after scoring just three runs from seven balls. Shaheen came back into the attack and prevented Chapman from scoring his second T20I century against Pakistan. He scored 94 runs from just 44 balls, featuring 11 fours and four sixes.
New Zealand suffer collapse
Michael Bracewell and Mitch Hay looked to attack but Abrar came back well. The leggie dismissed Hay and Kyle Jamieson off consecutive deliveries. In the penultimate over, Rauf struck twice to dismiss Bracewell who scored 31 runs from 18 balls. Sodhi returned to the pavillion after a run-a-ball 10. In the final over, Abbas Afridi ended New Zealand's innings with Jacob Duffy's wicket. New Zealand were bowled out for 204.
Nawaz, Haris go berserk
In the run chase, Pakistan got off to a blazing start as Mohammad Haris hit Jamieson for two sixes in the first over. The mis-hits were going over the 30-yard circle and reaching the boundary. The onslaught continued as Jamieson was taken to the cleaners. Duffy got the crucial breakthrough with Haris' wicket. The opener's 20-ball 41 was laced with four fours and three sixes. Pakistan were 75/1 after powerplay overs.
Nawaz, Salman finish run chase early
After a good platform, Nawaz reached his fifty from just 26 balls with a six off Neesham. Nawaz targetted Ben Sears as well while Salman played second fiddle. At the halfway mark, Pakistan were 124/1. Salman accelerated as well and negated the Sodhi wicket. Their partnership reached 100 in the 14th over. The run chase looked easy and Nawaz continued to clear the fence playing stupendous T20 shots. Salman reached his fifty in the 16th over from 30 balls. In the 16th over, Nawaz reached his hundred with a boundary from 44 balls. He finished the run chase in style with a boundary. Pakistan won by nine wickets with four overs to spare. This is their second-highest successful T20I run chase.They managed to keep the five-T20I series alive.
