Azam failed by scoring solely 9 runs however Fakhar Zaman And Saim Ayyub scored 47 and shared a 79-run partnership for the third wicket to bundle out Pakistan for 182 in 19.5 overs.
quick bowler Haris RaufOne in all 5 gamers to return after being rested in Pakistan’s final sequence towards Afghanistan, he took career-best figures of 4-18 as New Zealand had been bowled out for 94 in 15.3 overs.
Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim took each wickets in two consecutive balls to make it 2-2 in his solely over.
Mark Chapman scored 34 off 27 balls together with 4 fours and a six whereas skipper Tom Latham scored 20 off 24 balls.
Rauf’s earlier greatest T20 rating of 4-22 additionally got here towards New Zealand in Sharjah in 2021.
Azam praised his bowling unit.
“The pitch was serving to the bowlers so it was a very good batting efficiency to get that complete after which our complete bowling unit was glorious,” Azam stated.
“I by no means anticipated this. I nonetheless keep in mind the journey of beginning as a ball-boy on the side-lines, and to be right here now, it is a terrific honour,” Azam stated as a ball-boy Stated about doing service. sequence towards South Africa in 2007.
Latham stated that his staff was not in a position to adapt to completely different circumstances.
Latham, who’s scuffling with the absence of prime eight gamers because of the Indian Premier League, stated, “We’ve got not tailored to the circumstances too early.”
“On that floor, the rating was barely above-par. We did not construct a partnership with the bat.”
Earlier, Zaman and Ayub gained the toss and batted first to recuperate Pakistan from a foul begin.
Pakistan misplaced each their openers Mohammad Rizwan lbw for eight runs after which bowled Azam and misplaced quick bowler Adam Milne for simply 30 runs within the fifth over.
Within the tenth over, Ayub elevated the tempo by hitting two fours every off Milne and Ben Lister, earlier than he and Zaman hit spinner Ish Sodhi for a six every.
Zaman hit 4 fours and two sixes in his 34-ball knock, whereas Ayub’s 28-ball knock was studded with two sixes and 6 fours.
Ayub was run out for the second run earlier than Zaman was caught by Sodhi.
Faheem Ashraf scored 22 off 16 balls whereas Wasim scored 16 off 13 balls to assist Pakistan add 47 runs within the final 5 overs.
New Zealand quick bowler Matt Henry took a hat-trick so as to add to his figures of 3-32.
Henry dismissed Shadab Khan (5) and Iftikhar Ahmed (0) within the final two balls of his third over after which Shaheen Shah Afridi within the first ball of the fourth over.
Lister had figures of 2-30 whereas Milne completed with 2-51.
The remaining 4 matches are in Lahore on April 15 and 17 and Rawalpindi on April 20 and 24.
(AI picture)