Touch short just inside the guidelines on off and he confusingly throws his bat at it, Mark Chapman sprints forward and takes an absolute blinder at backward point, kept his eyes locked on the ball and dived impeccably to hold onto it and that also sums up the match as New Zealand register a comprehensive win over Pakistan and go one up in the five-match series.
New Zealand vs Pakistan, 1st T20I at Auckland, NZ v PAK, Jan 12 2024 - Match Result
Saim Ayub has broken the record for most catches in an innings (4) in T20Is for PAK, going past Yasir Shah's 3
This is the highest match aggregate (406) involving New Zealand & Pakistan in T20Is
Phew, that was an enthralling series opener with batters having a feast out there. Tim Southee showed the recipe for success on this pitch; he bowled his slower ones with unerring accuracy and picked up a match-winning four-fer. Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals and the equation became tougher with each passing over. Just when batters strung together a partnership and got a semblance of control, New Zealand managed to get an upper hand in the game with a wicket. Pakistan will rue the lapses in the field but we can expect them to come up with better bowling plans in the upcoming games and fine tune their performance. That's it from ESPNcricinfo's coverage of the first T20I. Don't forget to join us again on Sunday for the second meeting between these two sides in Hamilton. Until then, it's goodbye and goodnight from Rvel Zahid and rest of the crew.
Kane Williamson, New Zealand Captain: That was pretty chaotic. There were some really good partnerships throughout obviously a fantastic knock from Darryl, but some really valuable contributions, guys, coming in doing the work. I thought everybody contributed really well with the ball. We had partnerships in the first half. A special mention to Tim Southee, that was a remarkable spell. Everyone contributed well with the ball. He has been around for a long, long time. It was a fantastic game. It was great to see a fantastic crowd, hope they continue to support throughout the series. Need to build on the positives,I mean there's always little things to touch on but rather build on the positives...the margins are fine in this format.
Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan Captain: First time captaincy, always proud captaining your country. Short boundaries for fast bowlers but it's just a start and we played very good cricket. We will try to give our best in nest few games. Mitchell played really well. We need to do more work as a fielding unit. I think for us it's a positive sign, Saim Ayub played a good innings, you need to give them time and we are planning for World Cup and that's a start. As a bowling unit, we need to use variations at right time
Shah: "Cant understand the criticism on Babar. He literally did what Williamson did, just a tad bit better "
Jutt: "The big difference between the two teams today is fielding. Pak is so poor in fielding as same in Aus test series and received white wash for that. They need to improve thier fielding to win matches otherwise ready for another defeat in kext mathes too.
Chandan: "And with that Fourfer The Maestro Southee Equals Great Courtney Walsh with Most International Wickets...Take a Bow Tim"
DrBee: "Looking at Abbas Afridi's dismissal, it always amazes me how the batsmen manage to find just that one fielder in the outfield "
Tries to bludgeon a slower ball through covers but can't lay bat on it
And that's the 150th wicket for the maestro! Slower ball on short of a length floating on sixth stump line outside off, biffs it out to Henry at deep point
Pace off working like a charm for Southee, hits it into the deck on middle stump line, can't get on top of it and mistimes it down the ground for a run only
Top edge flies away to square of deep third who makes a fabulous stop, flicked the ball inside the rope and jumped out of the field, then came, reestablished his balance and pinged a sharp throw
Slower ball on a length outside off, forces it away to cover for a run, good slow ball
Launches the ball straight to Kane Williamson who takes a few steps forward and takes it as easy as you like. Hits the deck hard and gets some seam movement off the deck, swings big but doesn't control at all and once again New Zealand captain was in action again, comfortably caught
Raps the pads and rolls over to short square, fine leg charges in to intercept the ball as they sneak a bye
Nails a perfect yorker on middle, digs it out to midwicket and all the fielders are sitting deep in the crease so they manage to scamper back for the second run
Uppishly played this length on middle in the peninsula between square leg and midwicket for a run
Big wicket for New Zealand. Babar Azam spoons one straight to Kane Williamson at extra cover and that is a massive breakthrough, just couldn't clear the fielder and was not in a great position to time the shot, fuller ball on a length outside off and he couldn't get underneath it
Thick edge scoots away to third man for a four! Pakistan are not out of it, they have been lucky in last few overs
Fielder at deep backward point drops a sitter and it trickles away to the boundary! Short and wide, rasped aerially and nearly lost his wicket. Henry came in a few steps but the ball was hit right out of the screws and barely gave him any time to react but you got to take these catches at this level
Short of a length on middle, swivels and tugs it over square leg for a six, soaring high into the air, up and up, and eventually coming down in the stands.
Short of a length on an unimpeachable line on middle, straightening a touch and Aamer Jamal had no clue about it, welcome Aamer Jamal
And the move to promote himself up the order backfires! Scorching delivery in the hot zone outside off, off-cutter, gets extra kick off the deck and he tries to clobbers it across the line, ball takes an edge and keeper does the rest, safely snaffled
Massive yahoo across the line and only grabs fresh air. Proper fast bowling, short and veering across off
Oh, that's an untimely wicket for Pakistan but exactly what New Zealand needed to make it stiffer for the visitors. Williamson catches it safely in the deep at long-off as Azam Khan got in a tangle and it was a nothing shot in the end
Brings up a half-century with a crisp cut off the backfoot and it's in the gap. Long way to go but this is a good sign for Pakistan that Babar Azam is among the runs and we just saw some beautiful boundaries. Babar Azam has gone past Guptill and is third on the highest run getters list in T20Is
Swung down the ground for six, that is a fabulous shot. Got on top of bounce and clubs it over long on for a might long six
2W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
Eden Park, Auckland | |
Toss | Pakistan, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023/24 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | New Zealand led the 5-match series 1-0 |
Match number | T20I no. 2429 |
Hours of play (local time) | 19.10 start, First Session 19.10-20.40, Interval 20.40-21.00, Second Session 21.00-22.30 |
Match days | 12 January 2024 - night (20-over match) |
T20I debut | |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |
Over 18 • PAK 180/10