PAK vs NZ 1st T20I: The first T20I of the New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2024 saw just the toss event and two deliveries of the Match and guess what, Shaheen Shah Afridi snatched out all the limelight in those two balls he bowled.
Pakistan hosted the first T20I at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Pakistan against New Zealand on 18th April. Pakistan’s regular skipper Babar Azam was handed back the leadership duties and this series was marked as the first practice set for the marque ICC event later this year.
The weather and Climate management already released a rain prediction report for the 18th April on the match day. 07:00 IST was the time decided for the Toss but it was raining cats and dogs in Pindi so the toss was delayed about an hour or so.
The visitors won the flip of the coin and opted to bat first but it was raining again and later at 10:30 PM when the rain stopped and the field conditions were ready to play, the match was reduced to five overs each side. Powerplay was reduced to 2 overs and any two bowlers can bowl just two overs maximum.
Shaheen was handed the ball and Tim Robinson and Tim Seifert came to open the innings for the visitors. The debutant Robinson took the strike against Shaheen Shah for the first time and Shaheen Shah showed the youngster why he is so deadly in the first over of the contest.
Swing for Afridi in the first ball but it was down the leg. Robinson took a double on leg-by on the first ball of the match. Subsequently, he delivered a classic Shaheen Shah Afridi ball that was a real peach. Late inswinger from the middle stumps, decks back from a length of back, and beats Tim Robinson.
Watch: Shaheen Shah’s Ripper Taking Robinson’s Stumps Out
With this wicket, Shaheen Afridi has picked up 14 wickets in his first over. This is the most from any Pakistani Bowler in the first over.
After the first wicket, it again started to drizzle, and disappointment for everyone at Pindi who had waited and braved the rain to watch some cricket. Players were shaking hands and it was all off the 1st T20I.
Now, the two sides will face off again in a day on 20 April at a similar venue. There is rain prediction for the second match also and we will bring the full updates on it, so stay tuned…
READ: India vs Pakistan Test Series, Rohit Sharma believes IND vs PAK ‘will be a great contest”
Source- PCB Official