New Zealand crush Pakistan in T20 opener

Hagley Oval, Christchurch, T20 opener

Pakistan 91 (18.4 overs): Khushdil 32 (30), Duffy 4-14, Jamieson 3-8

New Zealand 92-1 (10.1 overs): Seifert 44 (29)

Nine wickets later, New Zealand won.

In Christchurch’s opening T20 of the series, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by nine wickets.

With 9.9 overs to spare, the hosts raced to their target after Pakistan were bowled out for 91 at the Hagley Oval, which is their lowest T20 total in New Zealand.

Only three batters in Pakistan’s first game, under new captain Salman Agha, were 3-3 after three overs and 14-4 after the six-over powerplay, and only three of them managed to reach double figures.

Kyle Jamieson, the match’s man, took three of his first four wickets to record a 3-8 total, while Jacob Duffy, his newcomer, took 4-14.

The only batter to score more than 18 balls was Khushdil Shah, who hit 32 off 30.

Finn Allen and Tim Robinson won the match with an unbroken stand of 39, before opener Tim Seifert’s opener Tim Seifert led New Zealand’s chase with a 44 off 29 deliveries.

On Tuesday, Dunedin will host the second T20 of the five-match series.