Tim Southee became the first player to 150 wickets in Twenty20 internationals as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 46 runs on Friday in their series opener in Auckland. Abbas Afridi became his 150th victim in the shortest format.
Southee picked up four wickets to pass the milestone and help bundle out the tourists for 180 in the 18th over in response to New Zealand’s towering 226-8, handing them early honours in the five-match series.
His figures of 4-25 were the best in the run-fest of a clash at Eden Park and took him to 151 wickets in T20 internationals, 11 more than Bangladesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan.
He sealed the deal as Pakistan’s run chase went astray after Babar Azam became the seventh wicket to fall in the 17th over, with the former captain having galloped to 57 off 35 balls to keep his side in the hunt.
Brief scores: New Zealand 226/8 in 20 overs (Daryl Mitchell 61, Kane Williamson 57, Finn Allen 35; Shaheen Afridi 3-46) beat Pakistan 180 in 18 overs (Babar Azam 57; Tim Southee 4-25, Ben Sears 2-42) by 46 runs.
More must-reads: