The Black Caps were far too good for Pakistan on Sunday, cruising to a nine-wicket victory in Christchurch.
New Zealand defeated Pakistan on Sunday in the first of five T20Is between the two nations, with Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson starring in the comprehensive nine-wicket victory in Christchurch.
Having won the toss and elected to field first, the Black Caps wasted no time in living up to the favourites tag that top cricket betting sites had given them.
Openers Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz were both removed for ducks, quickly swinging live betting odds even further in the home side’s favour.
Captain Salman Agha gave some resistance with a run-a-ball 18, but wickets continued tumbling as Irfan Khan (1) and Shadab Khan (3) both exited inside the first five overs too.
Khushdil Shah (32) and Agha formed a 46-run stand for the fifth wicket, which would end up being the biggest of the inning.
Duffy (4/14) and Jamieson (3/8) got stuck into the rest of the Pakistani lineup, ending the visitors’ misery in the 19th over for just 91 runs.
In response, the Kiwis were efficient and ruthless.
Tim Seifert took it to Pakistan’s bowlers, plundering 44 runs from 29 balls before edging to Haris off the bowling of Abrar Ahmed.
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While Seifert could not carry his bat, fellow opener Finn Allen (29 from 17) and Tim Robinson (18 from 15) took the Black Caps across the line, sealing the win in just 10.1 overs with nine wickets to spare.
“Very nice to be back on home soil, pretty favourable conditions,” Jamieson said after his player-of-the-match performance.
“I guess you plan for a little bit of carnage, so when you do get conditions like that, it makes the job a bit easier.
“Nice all-round team clinical performance.
“We certainly got a good crop of players, great depth, some guys can exploit conditions especially here and all around the world.”
Pakistan’s Agha praised the Black Caps’ bowlers in his post-match comments.
“It was obviously difficult, we weren’t up to the mark,” he said.
“They bowled really well, bowled in the right areas and got the ball to seam and swing.
“Debutants will learn as they play and they have to learn quickly as well.
“We’ll look to bounce back.”
Agha’s men have the chance to even the series on Tuesday in Dunedin when the two sides meet for the second T20I of the series.
Cricket bookmakers are confident the hosts will be able to extend their lead, however, with New Zealand at -333.33 and Pakistan paying +250.
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