Matt Henry Hat-Trick: Pak vs NZ 1st T20I: New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry scripted history in the first T20I at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday. The Kiwi bowler picked up a sensational hat-trick and helped his side to restrict Pakistan to 182. Notably, Henry is the fourth Kiwi player to claim a T20I hat-trick. Follow Cricket LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
After being put to bowl first, New Zealand made early inroads into the Pakistan batting line-up as pacer Adam Milne removed both Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan inside the powerplay overs.
Shadab Khan ☝️
Iftikhar Ahmed ☝️
Shaheen Afridi ☝️A hat-trick for Matt Henry in the first T20I at the GSL. #PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/h6bZP6O1hM
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 14, 2023
However, a 79-run partnership between Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman built momentum for the home side. Ayub’s innings finally came to a close with a Bowes’ direct hit at the non-striker’s end in the 12th over.
Henry then came to bowl his third over in the 13th over of the Pakistan innings. Henry forced Shadab Khan to nick one behind the stumps. He then dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed for a golden duck as the Kiwi pacer induced an outside edge from the Pakistan batter on the final ball of the 13th over.
Henry then bowled his final over of the innings in the penultimate over. Shaheen Afridi heaved the slower ball towards wide long-on. Daryl Mitchell ran to his left to take the catch but was about to lose his balance over the ropes. Mitchell threw the ball to Bowes, who ran from deep mid-wicket and stood inside the boundary line, before taking an easy catch parried by the former.
Lower-order, bowlers take Pakistan to resounding win
Despite a hattrick from Matt Henry, Pakistan managed to post a competitive 182 onboard in their quota of 20 overs. However, New Zealand’s inexperienced batting line-up couldn’t challenge Pakistan’s fiery bowling attack. The visitors lost three wickets inside the powerplay, and despite Mark Chapman’s valiant knock of 34, got bundled out for a mere 94, giving Pakistan a 88-run win in 1st T20I.
With this win, Pakistan has taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The second T20I will be played at the same venue on April 15.
Follow InsideSport on GOOGLE NEWS / Follow Cricket Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
