Cricket ace Hafeez boosts runs for Pakistan, Afridi adds fireworks

Wellington – Mohammad Hafeez led Pakistan to 171-8 after they were sent into bat by New Zealand in the opening Twenty20 at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.

Pakistan went straight into the international with no warm-up games and were run shy for the first few overs, reaching 77 for two after 10.

They were again hesitant at the tail when the last four overs only produced 37 runs.

But in the third quarter skipper Shahid Afridi was in full flight, and Pakistan put the hammer down.

In a brief cameo he set the innings alight with 23 off eight deliveries and was particularly harsh on Matt Henry whose first two overs only cost five runs.

When the seamer came back for his second spell, Afridi clouted 20 runs off four balls.

Umar Akmal kept the pace up with 24 off 14 and Imad Wasim belted 18 off nine.

Hafeez steered the innings through the early stages with 61 off 47 deliveries before he was well caught by Todd Astle on debut off the bowling of Adam Milne.

Milne was the most successful of the New Zealand bowlers with four for 37 while Mitchell Santner took two for 14.