Debutant Jacob Duffy had a night to remember as New Zealand beat Pakistan in first of the three-match series at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, taking 4 for 33 to guide his side to a five-wicket win.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan lost their five wickets for just 39 runs. However, stand-in skipper Shadab Khan (42) and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf (31) stood tall and ensured that the hosts put on a competitive total of 153/9 in their stipulated overs.
For the Black Caps, Tim Seifert (57 off 43) and Mark Chapman (34 off 20) were the key men with the bat as they chased down 154 with seven balls to spare.
The second T20I will be played at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday (December 20).
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Pakistan struggling with the bounce of @edenparknz . What a start from @Jacobduffman27 ! #PakvsNz
— Grant Elliott (@grantelliottnz) December 18, 2020
4️⃣ overs
3️⃣3️⃣ runs
4️⃣ wicketsA Player of the Match on debut for Jacob Duffy 🙌 #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/9pRhki3oez
— ICC (@ICC) December 18, 2020
AM I seeing double?!
Santner SIX to win a T20I for the second time this season!
GREAT WORK boys, that's a five wicket win to get us started 👏🏽#NZvPAK #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/5q1RzIf7s5
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 18, 2020
Who else?! Your @ANZ_NZ Player of the Match – Jacob Duffy 👏🏽 #NZvPAK #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/KVZEWkP0pi
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 18, 2020
@76Shadabkhan with a nice fighting skippers knock. Some top class bowlers in this side 2/3 early ones and she’s is all on #NZvsPAK
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) December 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/PakTravelVlog/status/1339869056145498112
Jacob Duffy & Tim Seifert were the difference in the end. Strong performance from New Zealand. Picked up right where they left off against the West Indies. Pakistan offered an admirable recovery, pushing them all the way…but ultimately had too tall a task to overcome. #NZvPAK
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) December 18, 2020
Decent fight from Pak,that start costing them the game in the end but if they can get runs at the top in this series,it’ll be a good one. Haris Rauf a 🌟
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) December 18, 2020
NZ won but a good match looking at the early collapse of Pakistan, Haris was superb again with the ball #NZvPAK
— WAZIR🇵🇰 (@156kph) December 18, 2020
Really I enjoy the batting of Shadab and Faheem but NZ play very well so they deserve #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/bm1e6AhH6J
— Hassan Johri 💙 (@hassanjohri123) December 18, 2020
1st-T20I: #NZvPAK
"New Zealand Won By 5 Wickets"
–
PAK 153-9 (20 Ovs)
NZ 156-5 (18.5 Ovs)
Seifert 57
Chapman 34
Rauf: 3/29
Shaheen: 2/27 pic.twitter.com/plL7YjzPy0— GM Abbasi (@GMF48) December 18, 2020
Turned out to be a good match at the end. Rustiness and lack of pitch reading the verdict for Pakistan. Looking forward to more competitive series #NZvPAK
— M.M.Al (@BabbaGucci94) December 18, 2020
