New Zealand look for 2-0 as 'high-risk' Pakistan's search for rewards continues

The focus will remain on Pakistan's batting as the action moves from Christchurch to Dunedin in the five-match men's T20I series. Pakistan's new captain Salman Agha had asked for "high-risk" cricket, but it did not come off in the first T20I on Sunday. Pakistan, in fact, hit a new low in that game after being bowled out for 91, which New Zealand then comfortably chased down in 10.1 overs. In the absence of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, who have been dropped, and Saim Ayub, who is still recovering from an ankle injury, Pakistan handed Hasan Nawaz a debut and opened with Mohammad Haris, who was playing a T20I after almost two years, with Salman slotting in at No. 3. Despite attempts to go big from the get-go, seven of Pakistan's batters fell for single-digit scores with Khushdil Shah top-scoring with 32 off 30 balls. How will Pakistan go in the second match after the failure in the first? Though New Zealand are missing key players due to their IPL commitments, they landed early punches with the ball in the first match, thanks to Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy, who shared seven wickets between them by the end. Tim Seifert, Finn Allen and Tim Robinson then tore apart Pakistan's attack. As they build their reserves, New Zealand will also look to continue their domination. And Jimmy Neesham, who hasn't played for New Zealand since June 2024, might have to wait his turn