Daryll Mitchell and Tim Southee emerged as the star performers for New Zealand as the hosts took 1-0 series with 46-run win against Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland On Friday, January 12.
After posting a total of 226/8 in 20 overs on the board, New Zealand bundled out Pakistan for 180 in 18 overs. Tim Southee led hosts' bowling attack with a four-wicket haul, while Adam Milne and Bean Sears scalped two wickets each.
For Pakistan, Babar Azam was the top-scorer with 57 off 35 balls, followed by Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 27 and 25, respectively.
Pakistan were looking set to chase down the hefty target of 227 but their batting collapsed from 159/5 to 180 all-out, losing five wickets in just 21 runs. The middle order failed to step up in crunch situation but succumbed to the pressure and thew away the wickets, giving advantage to New Zealand.
Daryll Mitchell and Kane Williamson slam half-centuries
The half-centuries from Daryll Mitchell and Kane Williamson helped New Zealand post a hefty total of 226 on the board in the first innings.
Mitchell played a brilliant innings of 61 off 27 balls, while Williamson 57 off 42 balls. The pair formed 78-run partnership for the third wicket after Finn Allen's dismissal.
Glenn Phillips (19) and Mark Chapman (26) contributed to New Zealand's total with their timely cameos.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi and Abbas Afridi scalped three wickets each. Afridi was slammed for 24 runs by Finn Allen in the second over of his spell. However, newly appointed Pakistan T20I captain managed to finish his figures 3/46 in four overs.
Ahead of the T20I series opener, New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner was ruled out of the match after testing positive for COVID-19 and didn't travel with the squad to the Eden Park in Auckland.
Babar Azam overtakes Martin Guptill's tally in T20Is
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has surpassed New Zealand batter Martin Guptill's tally of 3531 to become the third-leading run-getter in the history of Men's T20I.
After his 57-run knock, Babar tally stands at 3542, including 3 centuries and 31 half-centuries, at an average of 41.67 in 105 matches. He currently ranks behind Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on the all-time list of leading run-scorers in the T20Is.
Virat Kohli is the only player to amass 4000 runs in the history of T20I, with 4008 runs in 115 matches.
Babar Azam showed the glimpse of his return to form after having unforgettable three-match Test series against Australia, where he scored 126 runs at an average of 21 across six innings.
Tim Southee completes 150 wicket in T20 Internationals
With his four-wicket haul against Pakistan, Tim Southee has completed 150 T20I wickets. New Zealand pacer became the first bowler to achieve this milestone in the history of T20I cricket.
Southee was already the leading wicket-taker in the shortest format and he further consolidated his position at the top with 151 wicket in T20 Internationals.
Tim South also became the first New Zealand bowler and the 21st overall to take 300 wickets in the history of T20 Cricket. He has scalped 302 wickets in 255 matches. Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo heads the list with 619 wickets in 564 T20 matches.
