Christchurch, Monday, March 17, 2025 – New Zealand started their five-match T20I series against Pakistan with a bang yesterday. The Kiwis crushed the touring Pakistan team by 9 wickets in the first T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. It was a one-sided match. Pakistan struggled with the bat, and New Zealand made it look easy with the chase. Fans saw an exciting game, but it was all about the home team’s dominance. Let’s break down what happened in this thrilling opener.
Pakistan’s Tough Start with the Bat
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first. They hoped to set a big total. But things went wrong from the start. New Zealand’s bowlers came out strong. Kyle Jamieson, back in T20Is after almost two years, struck early. He bowled a wicket maiden in the first over. Mohammad Haris tried to hit a short ball but edged it to wicketkeeper Mitch Hay. Pakistan were 0 for 1.
It got worse quickly. Debutant Hasan Nawaz faced Jacob Duffy in the next over. He got a leading edge, and Jamieson took an easy catch at deep third. Both openers were out for ducks. This was only the second time Pakistan lost both openers without scoring in a T20I. The scoreboard read 0 for 2. Fans could sense trouble already.
Jamieson wasn’t done. In the third over, he got Irfan Khan out. The batter edged a ball behind to Hay. Pakistan were now 1 for 3. It was their lowest score at the fall of the third wicket in T20Is. The crowd cheered as New Zealand took control. Then, in the fifth over, Tim Robinson made a stunning catch at backward point. He dived to dismiss another Pakistan batter off Jamieson’s bowling. Pakistan slumped to 11 for 4. The powerplay ended with just 14 runs on the board. It was a disaster for the visitors.
A Small Fightback from Pakistan
With four wickets down early, Pakistan needed a miracle. Khushdil Shah and captain Salman Agha tried to fight back. They put on a 46-run partnership. Khushdil showed some aggression. In the seventh over, he hit back-to-back sixes off Michael Bracewell. The balls sailed over the boundary, giving Pakistan fans a glimmer of hope. Salman supported him with steady scoring.
But the fight didn’t last long. New Zealand’s bowlers stayed calm. Jacob Duffy came back into the attack. He got Salman out for 18 off 20 balls. The captain’s knock ended with a catch at mid-off. Pakistan were 57 for 5. Khushdil kept going. He scored 32 off 30 balls, including those two big sixes. But he couldn’t convert it into a big score. Ish Sodhi bowled him out in the 14th over. The ball spun past his bat and hit the stumps. Pakistan were 71 for 6.
Pakistan Collapse Completely
After Khushdil’s exit, Pakistan’s lower order crumbled. Jahandad Khan tried to hit some big shots. He scored 17 off 16 balls, including a six. But Zakary Foulkes got him out in the 17th over. Jahandad miscued a slower ball, and Bracewell took a simple catch at mid-off. The score was 85 for 7.
Kyle Jamieson returned to finish his spell. He ended with amazing figures of 3 for 8 in 4 overs. His height and bounce troubled Pakistan all day. Jacob Duffy was even better. He took 4 wickets for 14 runs in 3.4 overs. In the 19th over, Duffy wrapped things up. He got Abrar Ahmed out with a full ball. The batter hit it straight to Bracewell at mid-off. Pakistan were all out for 91 in 18.4 overs. It was their lowest T20I total against New Zealand. The crowd roared as the Kiwis walked off the field in high spirits.
New Zealand’s Easy Chase Begins
Chasing 92 runs, New Zealand came out to bat with confidence. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen opened the innings. Pakistan’s bowlers needed early wickets to have any chance. Shaheen Afridi started with the ball. He bowled a tight first over, giving just 1 run. But the pressure didn’t last.
In the second over, Mohammad Ali bowled to Seifert. The batter smashed a four over point. It was a beautiful shot. Seifert looked in great touch. Finn Allen joined the party in the third over. He pulled a short ball from Shaheen through square leg for another four. New Zealand were scoring quickly. After 3 overs, they were 20 for 0. Pakistan looked helpless.
Seifert and Allen Take Charge
Tim Seifert was the star of the chase. He played with freedom. In the fifth over, he hit Abrar Ahmed for a four over mid-wicket. The ball raced to the boundary. Allen supported him well. He smashed a four off Mohammad Ali in the sixth over. It went through backward square leg. New Zealand were 42 for 0 after 6 overs. The target was already in sight.
Pakistan tried spin with Shadab Khan. But it didn’t work. Allen hit him for a four in the seventh over. The ball went past the bowler’s hands. Seifert kept the runs coming. He scored 44 off 29 balls, including 5 fours. His innings was full of classy shots. Allen made 29 off 17 balls, hitting 4 fours. Together, they put on 72 runs for the first wicket. Pakistan’s bowlers couldn’t stop them.
A Small Hiccup, Then Victory
In the ninth over, Pakistan finally got a breakthrough. Abrar Ahmed bowled to Seifert. The batter tried to hit over the infield but miscued it. Michael Bracewell took a catch at mid-off. Seifert was out for 44. New Zealand were 72 for 1. They needed just 20 runs to win.
Tim Robinson came in to bat. He stayed calm with Allen. The pair kept rotating the strike. In the 10th over, Allen hit another four off Mohammad Ali. It went through the covers. The crowd cheered loudly. New Zealand were almost home. In the 11th over, Robinson sealed the win. He punched a short ball from Abrar through covers for two runs. New Zealand finished at 92 for 1 in 10.1 overs. They won with 59 balls to spare. It was a crushing 9-wicket victory.
Key Performers of the Match
Kyle Jamieson was the hero with the ball. His 3 wickets for 8 runs destroyed Pakistan early. Jacob Duffy was even better. His 4 for 14 earned him the Player of the Match award. Their pace and bounce were too much for Pakistan’s batters. Tim Seifert led the chase with 44. Finn Allen’s quick 29 helped finish the job fast. For Pakistan, Khushdil Shah’s 32 was the only bright spot. Their bowlers couldn’t make an impact.
Captains’ Reactions
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell was happy with the win. He praised Jamieson and Duffy. “It was a great day,” he said. “The bowlers set it up for us. We’ll keep working hard for the next games.” Pakistan captain Salman Agha admitted it was tough. “We didn’t play well,” he said. “We need to forget this and come back stronger.”
What’s Next?
This was just the first game of the series. New Zealand lead 1-0. The second T20I is on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. It will be at the same venue, Hagley Oval. Pakistan will want to bounce back. They need their big players to step up. New Zealand will aim to keep the pressure on. Fans are excited for another clash.
A Day to Remember for Kiwis
Yesterday’s match showed New Zealand’s strength at home. Their bowlers were on fire. Their batters made the chase look like a walk in the park. Pakistan, missing stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, looked lost. The crowd at Hagley Oval loved every moment. The Kiwis sent a strong message. They are ready to dominate this series.
Pakistan has work to do. Their batting collapsed badly. The bowlers couldn’t defend a small total. They’ll need a big turnaround to challenge New Zealand. For now, the Kiwis are on top. March 16, 2025, will be remembered as the day they annihilated Pakistan in Christchurch. Cricket fans can’t wait to see what happens next in this exciting series.
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