Jamieson and Duffy Shine as Black Caps Seal Commanding Victory
Pakistan’s T20 struggles continued as they were bowled out for just 91 in the first match of their five-game series against New Zealand. The absence of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan marked a new era for the team, but it began on a disappointing note as Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy dismantled the batting lineup, securing a dominant win for the hosts.
New Zealand’s Bowlers Run Riot
This collapse was reminiscent of Pakistan’s struggles in their previous New Zealand tour, where they were bundled out for 92 in Christchurch while chasing 135. This time, even that score proved elusive as Jamieson and Duffy’s pace and bounce proved too much to handle. Pakistan’s 91 is now their lowest T20I total in New Zealand and the fourth-lowest by any team in the country.
Jamieson’s Dream Return to T20 Cricket
Back in New Zealand’s T20I setup after nearly two years, Jamieson wasted no time making an impact. He delivered a wicket maiden in his opening over, dismissing Mohammad Haris, who edged a short ball to wicketkeeper Mitch Hay. Pakistan’s woes deepened when debutant Hasan Nawaz gifted a simple catch to Jamieson off Duffy’s bowling, leaving the visitors at 0 for 2 – only the second time both openers were dismissed for ducks in a T20I.
Irfan Khan was next to fall, edging behind in the third over as Pakistan slumped to 1 for 3, marking their lowest-ever score at the fall of the third wicket. Tim Robinson then took a stunning catch at backward point to dismiss another batter, reducing Pakistan to 11 for 4.
Brief Resistance from Agha and Khushdil
Pakistan struggled to 14 for 4 by the end of the powerplay, narrowly avoiding an even bigger disaster as Tim Seifert dropped Khushdil Shah at point. Agha Salman also enjoyed a bit of luck when Daryl Mitchell spilled a chance in the slips.
Using their lifelines, Agha and Khushdil attempted to stabilize the innings. Agha managed to reverse-sweep Ish Sodhi for four, while Khushdil cleared the ropes for Pakistan’s first six of the match. In the following over, he took on Michael Bracewell with back-to-back sixes, momentarily shifting the momentum. However, this resurgence was short-lived.
Duffy and Sodhi Finish the Job
Agha’s attempt at another reverse-sweep ended in disaster as he found the fielder at deep backward point. Duffy’s return to the attack was equally effective, as Khushdil mistimed a short ball to backward point, leaving Pakistan at 64 for 6 after 13 overs.
Debutants Abdul Samad and Jahandad Khan perished while trying to accelerate before Duffy wrapped up the innings in the penultimate over. His impressive performance continued from his previous T20I series against Sri Lanka, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker.
Seifert Leads the Chase with Aggression
New Zealand’s chase was never in doubt. After a cautious first over, Tim Seifert took charge, smashing three boundaries off Shaheen Afridi. He continued his aggressive approach against debutant Mohammad Ali and Jahandad Khan, with Finn Allen soon joining the onslaught.
The introduction of spin did little to slow the chase as Seifert smashed Abrar Ahmed over long-off. Though Abrar eventually dismissed him with a carrom ball, New Zealand had already secured the game. Allen and Robinson finished the job with a flurry of boundaries, sealing victory just after the halfway mark of the innings.
A Tough Start for Pakistan
This heavy defeat underscores the challenges Pakistan faces in the post-Babar-Rizwan era. The team’s experiment with a new-look batting order backfired spectacularly, exposing vulnerabilities against quality pace bowling. With four matches still to go in the series, Pakistan must quickly regroup to avoid further embarrassment and find a winning formula with their revamped squad.