Watch cricket video highlights of Pakistan tour of New Zealand 2025. First Twenty/20 between New Zealand and Pakistan. Venue of the match will be Christchurch.
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In the fifth T20I during last year’s Pakistan tour of New Zealand, the hosts were all out for just 92 while pursuing a target of 135 in Christchurch. In the series opener of this five-match
contest, that total was sufficient for New Zealand to secure victory after Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy dismantled a revamped Pakistan squad. The omission of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan indicated that Pakistan was attempting to break free from their usual style in T20 cricket, which is generally a positive step.
However, on Sunday, they experienced the downsides of that decision as they were bowled out for 91, marking their lowest total in New Zealand and their fifth-lowest in T20 history. The Black Caps, following the White Ferns, celebrated convincing wins during a double-header day in Christchurch, with Jamieson and Duffy taking a combined seven wickets, as the bounce they generated proved too challenging for the Pakistani batsmen.
Making his return to the T20I setup for the first time in nearly two years, Jamieson began strongly for New Zealand with a wicket maiden, as Mohammad Haris could only edge a short ball to wicketkeeper Mitch Hay. Debutant Hasan Nawaz then provided a leading edge off Duffy, caught by Jamieson at deep third, leaving Pakistan without a run on the board and both openers dismissed. This marked only the second instance of both Pakistan openers being out for ducks.
Jamieson quickly added Irfan Khan to the list, edging one to the keeper in the third over, as Pakistan found themselves at a dismal 1 for 3 – their lowest score at the fall of the third wicket. Tim Robinson reminded fans of Glenn Phillips from the Champions Trophy with a spectacular catch at backward point, giving Jamieson his third wicket as the score sat at 11 for 4. Pakistan’s powerplay saw them restricted to just 14 for 4, and their situation could have worsened right after, but Tim Seifert dropped Khushdil Shah at point off Michael Bracewell’s delivery.
Agha attempted to drive a full ball from Zakary Foulkes in the next over but edged it, although Daryl Mitchell dropped the opportunity in the slip position. Having received a second chance, Agha and Khushdil managed to steady Pakistan’s decline. They finally began to accelerate the scoring in the tenth over when Agha reverse-swept Ish Sodhi for four and Khushdil hit a six over midwicket, marking Pakistan’s first maximum. In the subsequent over, Khushdil attacked Bracewell, hitting back-to-back sixes in an effort to apply pressure on the bowlers.
However, this positive spell for Pakistan was short-lived. Agha attempted another reverse-sweep off the next ball from Sodhi but found deep backward point instead. Duffy was brought back into the attack for a single over, and it proved successful as Khushdil struck a short ball to backward point. After 13 overs, Pakistan found themselves at 64 for 6. Debutant Abdul Samad and Jahandad Khan both fell while trying to hit big shots before Duffy returned in the second-to-last over to claim the last two wickets.
Building on his success from the T20I series against Sri Lanka, where he was the leading wicket-taker. Pakistan’s final score of 91 stands as the fourth-lowest T20I total recorded by any team in New Zealand. After finishing the first over, Seifert began New Zealand’s innings with a pull shot through midwicket off debutant Mohammad Ali. He followed this by scoring three boundaries off Shaheen Afridi’s next over, including another pull shot directed in front of square.
Seifert charged down the pitch to Ali for another boundary, and then scored two runs off Jahandad’s first over, which was also the fifth of the innings. Finn Allen, who had been mostly observing until that point, entered the action by lofting Jahandad straight down the ground for the first six of the chase. Pakistan opted for spin, and Seifert greeted Abrar Ahmed with a significant hit over long-off.
Abrar managed to outsmart him with a carrom ball that Haris skillfully captured behind the stumps off the bottom edge, but by that stage, New Zealand had nearly secured their victory during the two powerplays. Allen struck another six along with two fours, while Robinson added a six to his tally as New Zealand accomplished their chase just one ball after reaching the halfway mark of the innings.
