New Zealand’s impressive bowling performance led them to victory as they defeated Pakistan by nine wickets at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on March 16, 2025, during the first T20I of the series. This match marked a decisive start for the Kiwis, giving them a 1-0 lead over Bangladesh.
Captain Michael Bracewell won the toss and decided to bowl first, a decision vindicated by the exceptional performances of seamers Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy. They both effectively exploited the favorable conditions, leading to the early collapse of the Pakistani batting order, which struggled from the onset. Pakistan was reduced to 1 for 3 within the first three overs as they were unable to deal with the pace and bounce provided by the New Zealand bowlers.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz opened the batting for Pakistan, filling the void left by senior players Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. Unfortunately for the visitors, aggression came at the cost of Haris’s wicket, as he edged Jamieson's delivery to the keeper, Mitchell Hay. Shortly after, Duffy dismissed debutant Hasan Ali without scoring, and Jamieson followed suit with the wicket of Irfan Khan. By the end of their innings, Pakistan's total was restricted to just 91, marking their fifth-lowest T20I score ever.
Only two Pakistani batsmen, Salman Ali Agha, who scored 18 runs, and Khusdil Shah, who fought valiantly with 32 runs, offered any resistance against the dominating Kiwis. Khusdil’s efforts included three sixes; nevertheless, wickets kept tumbling, compelling the team to fold out within 19 overs.
New Zealand displayed their batting prowess by easily chasing down the modest target of 92 runs within just 10.1 overs, achieving victory with nine wickets remaining. Tim Seifert set the tone for the chase with a quick fires 44 runs off 29 balls, consisting of seven boundaries and one six before he was finally dismissed by Abrar Ahmed. Finn Allen and Tim Robinson ensured they finished the job, finishing their innings unbeaten with 29 and 18 runs, respectively.
Kyle Jamieson's exceptional bowling achieved him the Player of the Match title. Speaking post-match, he reflected, “It was pretty nice to be back on home soil. We had favorable conditions here. We would love to carry this surface to most places.” Pakistan captain Agha Salman expressed disappointment over his team’s performance, stating, “It was difficult. We were not up to the mark, but we do not have much time. We need to bounce back.”
The match served not only as the start of the five-match T20I series but also as a test of resilience for the newly formed Pakistan side, who welcomed three debutants: Mohammad Ali, Hasan Nawaz, and Abdul Samad. The upcoming second T20I will take place on March 18, 2025, at Dunedin, where both teams will be eager to make necessary adjustments.
The Pakistan team will need to regroup and overcome these challenges, ensuring they learn and improve before their next encounter against the Kiwis, who are now on the prowl for continued success.