ABU DHABI – Pakistan beat New Zealand by two runs in the first Twenty20international in a last over thriller in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to take a1-0 lead in the three-match series.
New Zealand needed a six off the last ball to tie the match but managed aboundary to finish at 146-6 in 20 overs.
Pakistan´s best bowler was Hasan Ali who finished with 3-35.
Pakistan made 148-6 with Mohammad Hafeez (45), Sarfraz Ahmed (34) and AsifAli (24) main run getters after they won the toss and batted.
Adam Milne was the best New Zealand bowler with 2-28.
The remaining two matches will be played in Dubai on Friday and Sunday.
Pakistan, who are on a roll after a 3-0 whitewash of Australia on Sunday,brought back left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi in place of another fastbowler Usman Shinwari.
New Zealand left out express paceman Lockie Ferguson and included bothspinners Ish Sodhi and Ajaz Patel.
Pakistan maintained their top spot in the ICC T20 ranking with a 3-0whitewash of Australia in Dubai on Sunday, cementing their place as theleading lights of the game’s shortest format.
Speaking to the media, Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed admitted New Zealand,two points behind Australia in the world rankings having played three fewermatches, will be a tougher opponent.
“They [New Zealand] have a strong team with ideal batsmen for T20 and abalanced bowling attack so we need to set the tone from the first game bywinning it,” said Sarfraz.
He added, “We want to carry forward the winning momentum of the Australiaseries.”
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Pakistan has won 10 of their 18 previous T20 internationals against NewZealand.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is also aware of thethreat posed byPakistan and said his team needed to be at their best to beat the top team.
“Obviously, Pakistan are a strong side,” said Williamson.
“That’s something we’ve known for a long time. The last time we playedagainst them was at home in New Zealand and it was a tough series,” addedWilliamson of the January series Pakistan won 2-1.
“They are extremely strong in these conditions. Their rankings suggest thatas well. They have had a lot of success in the format in recent times.”
Pakistan have named an unchanged side to face New Zealand. However, openerFakhar Zaman is still sidelined with the knee problem that forced him tosit out Sunday’s game against Australia in Dubai.
The remaining two matches of the three-match series will be played in Dubaion November 3rd and November 4th. The two teams will then play three Testsand three one-day internationals.
The match between Pakistan and Australia will start at 9pm PakistanStandard Time.Squads
*Pakistan*: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain, wicketkeeper), Shaheen Shah Afridi,Asif Ali, Hassan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan, MohammadHafeez, Shadab Khan, Shoaib Malik, Waqas Maqsood, Usman Khan Shinwari,Hussain Talat, Imad Wasim, Fakhar Zaman
*New Zealand*: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Mark Chapman,Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, GlennPhillips (wicketkeeper), Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee,Ross Taylor – APP/AFP
