In the first T20 international, New Zealand beat Pakistan by nine wickets

In the first of five Twenty20 internationals played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on March 16, 2025, Pakistan lost badly to New Zealand by nine wickets, marking a difficult start to their white-ball cricket career under new leadership. This match marked the start of Pakistan’s preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup following a disappointing performance in the recent 50-over Champions Trophy at home.

Led for the first time by captain Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan fielded a revamped squad that struggled significantly against New Zealand’s disciplined pace attack. The visitors were bundled out for a meager total of 91 runs in just 18.4 overs, marking their fifth-lowest score in T20 internationals. New Zealand effortlessly chased down the target, reaching 92 for 1 in 10.1 overs. Tim Seifert played a key role, scoring a brisk 44 off 29 balls, while Finn Allen contributed 29 from 17 deliveries. Tim Robinson, remaining unbeaten on 18, sealed the win with a couple of runs off the first ball of the 11th over.

Reflecting on the loss, Salman Ali Agha admitted the team fell short of expectations. “It was obviously difficult, and we weren’t up to the mark,” he said. “They bowled really well in the right places, where they were favored by swing and seam. But our batting wasn’t good enough. We have a day before the next game and will try to regroup and improve.”

Pakistan’s batting woes began early as their new opening pair, Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz, replacing veterans Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, were dismissed for ducks within the first eight balls. The top order crumbled, with Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy delivering a fierce bowling display. Jamieson, returning to full fitness, claimed 3 wickets for just 8 runs, while Duffy dismantled the lineup with figures of 4 for 14. Their lethal combination of pace, bounce, and swing left Pakistan reeling at 14 for 4 by the end of the powerplay. Jamieson expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It was really nice to be back on home soil. We had favorable conditions, and it was good to capitalize on them.”

Though Pakistan briefly showed resilience, with Salman and Khushdil Shah taking 14 runs off Ish Sodhi’s over and 15 from Michael Bracewell’s in successive overs, their momentum was short-lived. From 28 for 4 after nine overs, they reached 57 for 5 after eleven. However, Duffy returned to dismiss Khushdil for 32, triggering another collapse, with only three batters reaching double figures.

New Zealand’s chase was smooth. Seifert set the tone early, taking 12 runs off the third over and another 14 off the fifth, guiding New Zealand to 43 for 1 by the end of the powerplay. Though Allen had a slow start, scoring just nine runs in the first six overs, the hosts soon accelerated. By the tenth over, New Zealand stood at 90 for 1, needing just two runs for victory when play was unexpectedly paused for drinks.

The dominant performance by New Zealand underlined Pakistan’s early struggles under new leadership, leaving them with significant improvements to consider before the next match in the series.