• New Zealand defeated United Arab Emirates in the first T20I by 19 runs.

  • Tim Southee returned with impressive figures of 4-0-25-5.

Twitter reactions: Tim Southee’s stunning 5-fer propels New Zealand to thrilling win over UAE in 1st T20I
New Zealand beat UAE in the first T20I (Image Source: Twitter)

In an electrifying clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, New Zealand emerged victorious against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by a margin of 19 runs in the opening encounter of the New Zealand tour of the UAE 2023.

Tim Seifert’s sizzling show take New Zealand to competitive total

The toss saw the United Arab Emirates opt to bowl first, a decision that would set the tone for an exciting showdown. New Zealand’s batting performance was led by Tim Seifert, who notched an impressive half-century, scoring 55 runs off 34 balls, including 2 fours and 3 sixes.

Cole McConchie‘s steady contribution of 31 runs from 24 balls and Jimmy Neesham‘s quickfire 25 off 22 balls helped propel New Zealand to a total of 155/6 in their allotted 20 overs.

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The UAE bowlers put up a spirited effort, with Junaid Siddique and Basil Hameed both grabbing crucial wickets. Siddique ended with figures of 2 wickets for 35 runs in his 4-over spell, while Hameed contributed with 2 wickets for 30 runs in his quota of overs.

Tim Southee’s brilliant 5-fer seal the deal

In response, UAE Emirates fought valiantly, led by a standout performance from Aryansh Sharma, who scored a well-crafted 60 runs off 43 balls, including 9 boundaries and 1 six. However, the rest of the batting order struggled to maintain a consistent momentum.

New Zealand skipper Tim Southee‘s brilliant bowling display wreaked havoc on the UAE batting lineup, as he claimed an impressive 5-wicket haul for just 25 runs in his 4 overs. Mitchell Santner and Neesham chipped in with 2 wickets each, further contributing to New Zealand’s dominant bowling performance.

Despite Aryansh’s heroic efforts, the United Arab Emirates fell short of the target, being bowled out for 136 runs in 19.4 overs. New Zealand’s comprehensive bowling effort restricted the UAE’s chase and secured a hard-fought victory.

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Here is how Twitter reacted:

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