DUBAI: New Zealand were restricted to 135 for seven, having been sent in, in the opening T20 international against Pakistan in Dubai today.

The tourists made a horror start, losing three wickets in the first three overs, including stand-in captain Kane Williamson first ball, lbw to seamer Anwar Ali.

Opener Martin Guptill looked good in getting to 32, although ending his innings with the batsman limping.

Allrounder Corey Anderson, with 48 off 37 balls, including four sixes, and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi, who hit 33 off 28 balls, provided the other substance to the New Zealand innings.

The second T20 will be played on Friday. It begins at 9:00pm.

Pakistan’s fielding was sharp and the bowling smart, with plenty of variations in pace and line.

Seamers Mohammad Irfan and Sohail Tanvir picked up two wickets apiece.

The average first innings score in Dubai in T20 internationals is 136.

Umar Gul and Ahmed Shehzad were left out of Pakistan playing XI while New Zealand were without their skipper Brendon McCullum and the fast-bowling duo Tim Southee and Trent Boult.

Teams:

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Awais Zia, Haris Sohail, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Raza Hasan, Saad Nasim, Sarfraz Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Anton Devcich, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Ross Taylor.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND:

M.J. Guptill b Afridi 32
K.S. Williamson lbw b Anwar Ali 0
A.P. Devcich lbw b Sohail 1
L.R.P.L. Taylor c Umar Akmal b Irfan 4
C.J. Anderson c Saad b Raza 48
L. Ronchi b Sohail 33
J.D.S. Neesham c Umar b Irfan 6
N.L. McCullum not out 1
A.F. Milne not out 2

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-1, W-4, NB-1) 8
TOTAL (for seven wkts; 20 overs) 135
DID NOT BAT: M.J. Henry, M.J. McClenaghan.
FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-10, 3-15, 4-61, 5-112, 6-128, 7-130.
BOWLING: Anwar 2-0-15-1: Sohail 4-0-24-2 (1w); Irfan 4-0-27-2 (1nb, 2w); Raza 4-0-24-1 (1w); Hafeez 2-0-15-0; Afridi 4-0-27-1.

PAKISTAN: Sarfraz Ahmed, Awais Zia, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi (captain), Saad Nasim, Anwar Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Raza Hasan, Mohammad Irfan.

UMPIRES: Ahmed Shahab and Ahsan Raza (both Pakistan)
TV UMPIRE: Shozab Raza (Pakistan)
MATCH REFEREE: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka)

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2014