Pakistan bulldozed New Zealand by 88 runs in the first T20I of the five-match series in Lahore on Friday (April 14). There couldn't be more perfect gift for the Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who ended up on the winning side while featuring in his 100th international match in the shortest format of the game.
However, Azam couldn't go big on his special match as he was dismissed for just nine runs, however, despite his batting failure Pakistan posted a daunting total of 182. In reply, New Zealand collapsed for a paltry 94, thanks to Haris Rauf's superb spell of 4/18 which folded the visitors in mere 15.3 overs.
Meanwhile after clinching the issue Babar, who was captaining in his 67th match, equalled India's legendary MS Dhoni's record of 41 wins as skipper in T20I cricket. Babar is now joint second in the list of captains with most victories in the slam bang format and is only behind former England skipper Eoin Morgan and ex-Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan. Both Morgan and Afghan notched 42 wins in T20Is while captaining their respective sides. Babar is now on the cusp of creating a world record as he is just one triumph away from stepping on the massive milestone. Babar will look to bag the world record in the second T20I agaisnt New Zealand on April 15 (Saturday).
Talking about the match, despite Babar and Rizwan's failures with the bat, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub notched 47 runs each and put on a 79-run partnership for the third wicket to steer Pakistan to 182 all out in 19.5 overs. Star pacer Haris , 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.
ALSO READ:
