Pakistan vs New Zealand: Rain abandons first T20I in Rawalpindi ...
Toss was delayed in Rawalpindi ahead of the first T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand, but intermittent rain meant that the match had to be reduced to five overs per side before being eventually called off.
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Intermittent rain in Rawalpindi forced the first T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand on Thursday to be abandoned. AP
The first T20I between Pakistan and New Zealand was washed out due to rain in Rawalpindi on Thursday, with only two balls being bowled in the contest. Intermittent rain at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium meant that the toss was delayed by half an hour. New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first. The Kiwis handed a debut to opener Tim Robinson whereas Pakistan gave debuts to Irfan Khan, Usman Khan and Abrar Ahmed.
However, just as the first ball was about to be bowled, it started to drizzle again, and the drizzle soon became heavier. Three hours after the scheduled start time of the match, there was a respite as the rain eased up and the ground eventually dried up enough for a five-overs per side match to go ahead.
The five overs a side eventually went ahead after more than three hours of delay. Shaheen Shah Afridi opened Pakistan’s bowling and got off to the best possible start with the wicket of Tim Robinson in the second ball, with the pacer cleaning the latter up with an inswinging delivery. However, that was all the cricket that the fans could witness in Rawalpindi as it started to drizzle.
Time also would not permit the game from going ahead and the game was officially called off by the umpires as the players shook hands.
The second match of the five-match series will also be played in Rawalpindi on Saturday. New Zealand have sent a second-string side to Pakistan with several players taking part in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
