Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Tim Robinson (not pictured) during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on April 18, 2024. Heavy rain washed out the first Twenty20 international between Pakistan and New Zealand after just two deliveries were bowled in Rawalpindi on April 18. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)
April 20, 2024
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AFP)— Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Amir led a destructive Pakistan attack to bowl out an under-strength New Zealand for a paltry 90 in their second Twenty20 clash in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
Shaheen led the attack with 3-13 while Amir, returning to international cricket after nearly four years, finished with 2-13 as the visitors were bowled out in 18.1 overs after being sent in to bat.
Amir retired from international cricket in 2020 after he was dropped from the team, the second break in his career after he was banned for five years in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010.
Spinners Abrar Ahmed (2-15) and Shadab Khan (2-15) doubled the pressure as New Zealand were dismissed for their second lowest total against Pakistan in the game’s shortest format.
Mark Chapman (19), Cole McConchie (15), Dean Foxcroft (13) and Tim Seifert (13) were the only batsmen to reach double figures.
The first of five-match series was washed out after just two deliveries, also in Rawalpindi, on Thursday.
Both teams are preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in June in the United States and the West Indies.
New Zealand are missing a host of their top players due to playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League, unavailability and injuries.