PAK vs NZ, 1st T20I: 4 Bowlers Who Will Take Most Wickets In Today's Match

PAK vs NZ: Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the first T20I of the five-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday. The match will kick off from 7:30 PM IST.

The two teams last faced each other in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Sydney. Pakistan won the match by seven wickets after chasing the 153-run target in 19.1 overs. Pakistan have defeated New Zealand in four of their last five T20I matches.

This time around as well, the hosts are favourites to win the match and the series. The New Zealand batting unit looks depleted in the absence of their white-ball stars and their bowlers will have to play a massive role.

Ahead of the match, let's have a look at the top four bowlers who can pick the most number of wickets.

Shaheen Shah Afridi: In his last seven T20I matches, the left-arm pacer has picked 11 wickets at an economy of 6.15 and a strike rate of 13.72. He has played seven T20I matches against New Zealand and picked 10 wickets at an average of 20.20 and an economy rate of 7.48.

In Pakistan, Shaheen has picked 10 wickets in nine T20Is at an economy of 6.77. Last year, he played eight matches and picked 13 wickets at an average of 13.53 and an economy rate of 6.03.

Haris Rauf: The express pacer has performed exceptionally well in recent times. His last seven T20I matches have seen him pick eight wickets at an economy of 6.84 and a strike rate of 19.50.

Overall, he has featured in 57 T20I matches for Pakistan and picked 72 wickets at an average of 22.94. He failed to pick any wicket in his four-over spell against the Kiwis at the T20I World Cup 2022. He would be aiming to put up a better show against them this time.

Matt Henry: New Zealand pacer Matt Henry would be aiming to do exactly what Shaheen and Rauf are capable of doing against his team. The 31-year-old has played seven T20I matches and picked as many wickets at an average of 32 and an economy of 8.61.

His white-ball prowess is justified by his ODIs stats. He has played 67 fifty-over matches and picked 119 wickets at an average of 25.05 and an economy of 5.10. He is completely capable of surprising Pakistan batters.

Rachin Ravindra: It remains to be seen if Rachin Ravindra gets a chance in the New Zealand playing eleven for the first T20I but his inclusion can add the variety needed in the bowling attack of the hosts.

The left-arm spinner has bowled in seven innings of a T20I match and picked seven wickets at an average of 19.14 and an economy rate of 5.58.