Twitter Reactions: Pakistan loses momentum yet again as NZ take 1-0 lead

Coming on the back off a whitewash against the Kiwis in both Tests and ODIs, Pakistan had hoped for a turnaround in luck in the T20 leg. However, the Men in Green’s batting woes continued as they succumbed to yet another defeat in the T20 opener. The hosts continued their dominion as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory. New Zealand however, had to play without skipper Kane Williamson, who pulled out just hours before kickoff after complaining of a tight thigh. Tim Southee was named the stand in skipper instead.

After inviting to bat first, Pakistan had a nightmarish start after they lost both openers Fakhar Zaman (3) and Umar Amin (0). Mohammad Nawaz (7) and Haris Sohail (9) were the next to go, as Pakistan were reduced to a measly 22/4 even before the powerplay got over.

Babar Azam stood out with run-a-ball 41 as the rest of the team collapsed around him. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed was dismissed soon after for 9. Shadab Khan, out for a golden duck, followed next, leaving Pakistan at 38-6. Faheem Ashraf was removed for 7, and Hasan Ali fell after a brave 23 off 12 balls, with Pakistan at 83-8. Babar continued to fight on till the end, before he was caught off Colin Munro’s delivery.

Chasing an easy total of 105, the hosts suffered an early setback as Pacer Rumman Raees struck twice to remove the in-form Martin Guptill and Glenn Phillips. Rumman injected new energy into the bowling side after Pakistan suffered yet another embarrassing batting collapse earlier.

But then Colin Munro and Tom Bruce overcame the early setback as they settled in the crease and smashed the ball around the park to put New Zealand on track to chase the target. Though Shadab Khan ended Bruce’s innings at 26, as New Zealand lost their third wicket at 57, the visitors couldn’t claim any more scalps handing over yet another victory to the Kiwis.

Here are the best tweets from today’s game:

Babar Azam today batted 37 consecutive balls without hitting a boundary which is a new unwanted record for Pakistan in T20Is. Previous: Saad Nasim (32 balls) vs Australia, Dubai, 2014. #NZvPak

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 22, 2018

Captain Tim Southee – ‘We wanted to come out and take early wickets and we managed to do that’ #nzvpak pic.twitter.com/On3jqI8fg4

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 22, 2018

Babar Azam out of UAE is fish out of water. #NZvPAK

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) January 22, 2018

Colin Munro finishes unbeaten on 49. One more run would have made him just third batsman in T20Is, after McCullum and Gayle, to register 4 consecutive 50+ scores. #NZvPak

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 22, 2018

A 7-wicket win to the BLACKCAPS in the first GJ Gardner Homes T20I in Wellington ?
Some superb late hitting from Ross Taylor (22*) & a controlled 49* from Colin Munro guides us through to the 106-run target with 25 balls to spare. Card | https://t.co/MgHaD9EmkS #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/kJ2nhxMY1z

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 22, 2018

Man of the Match Colin Munro – ‘I thought they bowled well. We had to adapt to the surface and we did that well’ #nzvpak pic.twitter.com/jbeD4MeZ4G

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 22, 2018

Pakistan’s story in New Zealand:
In ODIs we used to lose 4 wkts in 10 overs
In T20Is we are losing 4 wkts in 6 overs #NZvPAK

— Nabeel Hashmi (@HashmeNabeel) January 22, 2018

#NZvPAK

Babar Azam की ODI Average में कितना फर्क आया ??

Me ~ Itna ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1IOMudvjzC

— King Kohli ?? ? (@viratking17) January 22, 2018

#PAKvNZ
Pakistan vs New Zealand / Head to Head in T20I
Total 15
PAK 8
NZ 7
——————-
In New Zealand
Total 6
PAK 2
NZ 4
——————-#PAKvNZ #NZvPAK @TheRealPCB

— Saeed Ahmed Shahid (@itxSaeeed) January 22, 2018

Format change but not change Pak batting styles. Just like #NZvPAK

— Mohd Rizwan (@mhdrzwn) January 22, 2018

I would pick Colin Munro in my current world test 11.

His continued non-selection in the New Zealand test side is absolutely bewildering.#NZvPAK

— Paul Dennett (@the_summer_game) January 22, 2018

That last ball wide wasn't required and Munro could've had 4 consecutive 50s. ? #NZvPAK Come on lads! ?

— Josh (@joshlivi) January 22, 2018

In 50 year there will be documentary on Discovery Channel called "How Pakistan win 2017 Champions Trophy with this batting line up". Hopefully by then science have made new advancement to answer this puzzle.#NZvPAK

— Big Nas (@NasirJamshed_) January 22, 2018

Someone please get rid of this Waqar Younis around Pakistani team, where ever he follows this team, the team looses there, be as a coach or commentator. He only brought wins as a player. #NZvPAK

— Bilal Ahsan Dar (@bilscoop009) January 22, 2018

I dont want to troll #Pakistan but I suggest ? one thing to NZ cricket board. You have won the series, now you should rest this squad and send Nz Women's team to play 2nd T20 and whitewash the series.#NZvPAK #T20I

— Rajendra singh (@rajendrasingh41) January 22, 2018

What Pakistani cricket fans wants from Sarfraz Khan..

Pic. 1 : Expectations.
Pic. 2 : Reality.#NZvsPAK #NZvPAK #NZLvPAK #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/G5BbZ5QBUy

— кiran я_g. (@KiranRGo) January 22, 2018

22 January, 2016: Pakistan all out on 101 at Westpac Stadium with 9 batsmen out caught and highest score being 41.

22 January, 2018: Pakistan all out on 105 at Westpac Stadium with 9 batsmen out caught and highest score being 41.

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 22, 2018

Life is runs and I'm Pakistani top order.#PAKvNZ #NZvPAK

— Zunair Hasaan (@ZunairHasaan32) January 22, 2018

49 in New Zealand's inns:

Colin Munro's score – 49*
Munro-Bruce pship – 49
Munro-Taylor pship – 49*#NZvPak

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) January 22, 2018

9 out of 11 Pakistan players failed to reach double figures today. 4th such instance for Pakistan in T20Is

vs Sri Lanka (2012)
vs New Zealand (2016)
vs India (2016)
vs NEW ZEALAND (today)#NZvPAK #BattingCollapse #Pakistan

— Cric Stat (@Cric_Stat) January 22, 2018