Southee and Guptill lead Kiwis to victory

Pace bowler Tim Southee ripped through Pakistan’s batting order before opener Martin Guptill smashed a quick-fire half century to help New Zealand to a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Twenty20 international on Sunday.

Southee took five wickets, including just the third hat-trick in international Twenty20 matches, while Guptill scored 54 in 29 balls as a new-look New Zealand side produced a morale-boosting win.

Guptill’s 54 included four sixes, one of which almost went out of the ground, before he was run out when attempting a quick single but was sent back by stand in captain Ross Taylor, who finished on 39 not out and saw the home side to victory.

Southee had ripped through Pakistan’s order by taking five wickets in nine balls, including a hat-trick, that reduced Pakistan from 58 for one to 68 for six within the space of 10 minutes.

Pakistan had begun strongly, rolling along to 58 for one, with the only dismissal that of captain Shoaib Afridi (20), before Southee began his purple patch, dismissing Ahmed Shehzad for 14 on the final ball of his first over.

He then dismissed Younis Khan (two), Hafeez (24) and Umar Akmal (0) on successive deliveries in his second over before he completed his demolition with Abdul Razzaq becoming his fifth victim on the second ball of his third over when he feathered a catch through to wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan for one. Southee finished with figures of five for 18 from his four overs, though Pakistan’s bowlers provided some late resistance with Umar Gul (30) and Wahab Riaz (30 not out) helping their side through to 143 for nine off their 20 overs.

AUCKLAND, Dec 26 Reuters