Twitter Reactions: Seifert's fifty, Southee's fifer help New Zealand avoid UAE scare in first T20I

New Zealand and United Arab Emirates locked horns in the first game of the three-match T20I series on Thursday, August 17 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. UAE captain Muhammad Waseem won the toss and invited New Zealand to bat first. The decision was vindicated by Junai Siddique who dismissed the Kiwi opener Chad Bowes on the very first ball of the innings to get his team off to a remarkable start.

After losing his opening partner early, Tim Seifert took the attack on the opposition and made full use of the powerplay. The 28-year-old smacked UAE bowlers all around the park and helped New Zealand cross the 50-run mark inside the powerplay. Seifert played a sensational innings of 55 (34) smashing two fours and three sixes in his innings.

However, his blitzkrieg ended in the eighth over as he got dismissed by Basil Hameed leaving New Zealand reeling at 60/3. Wickets kept falling for the visitors with Dane Cleaver (4 off 7), Mark Chapman (15 off 18) and Mitchell Santner (2 off 3) departing cheaply leaving their side on 85/5 after 12.1 overs.

Lower order contributions from Jimmy Neesham (25 off 22), Cole McConchie, (31* off 24) and Rachin Ravindra (21* off 11) helped New Zealand finish on 155/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Basil Hameed (2/30) and Junaid Siddique (2/35) picked up two wickets each for UAE.

In the second innings, UAE also got off to a bizarre start as captain Muhammad Waseem got dismissed by Tim Southee on the very first ball of the innings. The Kiwi skipper further removed Vritya Arvind in the third over to leave the opposition reeling at 15/2.

Tim Southee led the bowling attack with his sensational fifer

With wickets falling continuously from one end, Aryansh Sharma played a sublime knock of 60 (43) clobbering nine fours and a six in his innings. However, after his dismissal in the 15^th over, UAE's batting fell like a house of cards and got bundled out for 136. As a result, New Zealand won the match by 19 runs and went 1-0 up in the series. Tim Southee was the pick of the bowlers for his side as he picked up 5/25 in four overs while Mitchell Santner (2/22) and James Neesham (2/15, 3 overs) also picked up two wickets each.

Meanwhile, X was abuzz with reactions on New Zealand’s win.

Here are some of the posts:

@DaveBautista as @EmiratesCricket coach 😅😅 #CricketTwitter #UAEvsNZ pic.twitter.com/LXwdWAdEUz

— Debayan Paul™ (@paul_debayan) August 17, 2023

NZ finishes their innings on 155-6 with the help of 46(28) partnership between Ravindra & McConchie #UAEvsNZ pic.twitter.com/grdRlvhDgF

— #BackTheBLACKCAPS 🇳🇿 (@KW_Fans) August 17, 2023

Well done BlackCaps👏#UAEvsNZ pic.twitter.com/CXq7518IZw

— Mitchel McClenaghan (@Witch__Savage) August 17, 2023

UAE were 84-3 after 10 overs needing 72 of 60. Sensible batting would have taken them home but you always felt the inexperience would show. This is a very young batting line up. Aryansh was excellent, others needed to use their head a bit more. Chance wasted here#UAEvsNZ pic.twitter.com/Vn73inY7Rq

— Vivek Yadav (@Vivek67320134) August 17, 2023

UAE team missed the chance of creating history in T20I just bcoz of inexperience but played well. Good future ahead #UAEvsNZ

— AB (@iamamit74) August 17, 2023

2nd t20i fifer for tim southee a great spell of 5-25 in 4 over #TimSouthee#FiveWicketHaul#UaevsNZ#Cricket pic.twitter.com/VVYz6xvTaa

— ANSH GABA (@WhatEverAnshh) August 17, 2023

क्या शुरुआत है" पहली गेंद पर विकेट

यूएई और न्यूज़ीलैंड पहली बार टी20i खेल रहें हैं#UAEvsNZ #UAEvNZ pic.twitter.com/QDUKR1RVfo

— 𝐙𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐈 ذیشان 𝐈 ज़ीशान 𝟐.0 (@zeeshan_naiyer2) August 17, 2023

50 for Tim seifert #cricket #UAEvsNZ pic.twitter.com/YklQwP3w5j

— STUMP STORIES (@TheStumpstories) August 17, 2023