Kiwis draw first blood

AUCKLAND, (Reuters) – Pace bowler Tim Southee   ripped through Pakistan’s batting order before opener Martin  Guptill smashed a quick-fire half century to help New Zealand   to a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Twenty20   international on Sunday.

Southee took five wickets, including just the third  hat-trick in international Twenty20 matches, while Guptill   scored 54 in 29 balls as a new-look New Zealand side produced   a morale-boosting win.

Tim Southee grabbed just the third hat-trick in international Twenty20 matches.

Guptill’s 54 included four sixes, one of which almost went   out of the ground, before he was run out when attempting a   quick single but was sent back by stand in captain Ross   Taylor, who finished on 39 not out and saw the home side to   victory.       Southee had ripped through Pakistan’s order by taking five   wickets in nine balls, including a hat-trick, that reduced   Pakistan from 58 for one to 68 for six within the space of 10   minutes.

Pakistan had begun strongly, rolling along to 58 .for one,   with the only dismissal that of captain Shoaib Afridi (20),   before Southee began his purple patch, dismissing Ahmed   Shehzad for 14 on the final ball of his first over.

He then dismissed Younis Khan (two), Hafeez (24) and Umar   Akmal (0) on successive deliveries in his second over before   he completed his demolition with Abdul Razzaq becoming his   fifth victim on the second ball of his third over when he   feathered a catch through to wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan for   one.

Southee finished with figures of five for 18 from his   four overs, though Pakistan’s bowlers provided some late   resistance with Umar Gul (30) and Wahab Riaz (30 not out)   helping their side through to 143 for nine off their 20 overs.