Kiwis Boult from the blocks to secure opening ODI - Press Release issued by Pakistan Cricket Board.

Abu Dhabi -- November 08, 2018 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

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New Zealand has won the first game of the Brighto Paints Pakistan vs New Zealand ODI 2018 Cup in Abu Dhabi. The tourists, who won by a comfortable 47 runs over their Pakistani hosts, cemented their superiority in the ODI form of the game, crucial ahead of next year's Cricket World Cup.

New Zealand won the toss, and decided to kick off the day-night ODI by choosing to bat. However, Pakistan were determined that the New Zealander's luck with the coin wouldn't pass over to luck with the bat. Shaheen Shah Afridi started proceedings by swiftly dismissing George Worker, caught by Captain Sarfraz Ahmed for 1, and then Afridi struck Colin Munro plumb on the pads. Munro reviewed, but the third umpire sent the left-handed batsman back down to the changing rooms, leaving New Zealand on 36 for 2.

Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson strode out to the crease, looking to inject some calm into New Zealand's afternoon, but Pakistan's Shadhab Khan had other ideas, dismissing Williamson for 27 - caught by Mohammed Hafeez at midwicket. Ross Taylor and Tom Latham brought some steadier batting, bringing New Zealand from 78 up to 208, but then Shadhab enjoyed a moment of inspired bowling, dismissing Latham and Nicholls for two plumb LBWs, and then finished his magic with the dismissal of Colin de Grandhomme for a duck, taking three wickets off four neat balls.

Ross Taylor was dismissed in the next over for 80 after some superb spin from Imad Wasim, whose ball dodged under his bat and crashed into the stumps. Ish Sodhi and Tim Southee came out, and both tail-enders managed to bring the Kiwis' score up, with Sodhi knocking three balls for six, but the right-handed batsman's risky big hitting led to him being caught by Shadab off a ball from Afridi in the penultimate over. Southee was caught in the deep by Junaid Khan, bringing up the fourth wicket for Afridi in the innings.

Trent Boult finished off the Kiwi innings with some style by knocking the ball over third man, landing deep inside the boundary, bringing New Zealand's total to 266. The last 60 balls of the first innings saw an exciting 67 runs and 6 wickets.

New Zealand's bowlers looked to defend their haul of 266, and Man of the Match, Trent Boult, did not disappoint, taking three wickets in as many balls. First, Fakhar Zaman was dismissed when a ball from...