Michael Bracewell - We Could Have Limited Pakistan To A Lower Score In Series Opener
New Zealand began the 5-T20I series with a nine-wicket win against Pakistan. New Zealand pacers push Pakistan batters to tremble down under 100 and New Zealand bowled the Pakistani batter out for 91, It is the lowest T20I total of Pakistan on New Zealand soil.
In press after the game, the New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell says that the hosts would have bowled out Pakistan even earlier but due to holding back Kyle Jamieson, who was chilling with the new ball, taking a wicket in each powerplay.
"It was a fantastic day in front of our crowd. We have played against them, but to have them in a similar team, it was difficult for Pakistani players and they couldn't make it to recover. And we had hold Kyle back for the fourth over, as Kyle was ready and at the best of his bowling, it was difficult to keep our bowler to off the game, maybe we could have halt Pakistan team to a lesser score and I had to bowl them out earlier.
Kyle Jamieson bowled a wicket-maiden as Haris was just clueless. In Kyle's 2nd over, he got Irfan Pathan's wicket by the help of a bouncer and which he generated it from the pitch of Oval, Christchurch. In his third over, Shadab Khan faces a short ball of Kyle Jamieson. Tim Robinson who was at the backward point, flew in the air and caught one out in the air. Afte the end of the fifth over Pakistan were 11/4.
Bracewell was exceptional in the Champions Trophy 2025 final in Dubai against India, and was hit for two consecutive sixes by Pakistani batter Khushdil Shah.In the 17th over Kyle Jamieson was brought back. While Kyle was bowling against Jahandad Khan and Shaheen Afridi, they both were clueless against kyle. After the end of 4 overs of his quota, Jamieson only conceded eight runs. Because of his excellent performance, Kyle got 'Player of the match'.
Jamieson expressed his feelings after the match:
"It was good to be back on home soil, conditions was totally favourable for me and Duff, as much as we can take advantage these conditions, we make it and it was nice too. I guess we plan for some devastation in T20Is and it needed to keep the seam upright, and this made our work more easy and was a flawless performance of our team. We have got a good young team, great depth and who can use the conditions as best as they can, it was a pretty good team win. Jacob Duffy did an excellent job, at the top of the over and at end overs as well,and a conclusion that it was just a one of the great all-around performances from our bowlers," Jamieson said.