Kyle Jamieson back in full flight as Black Caps cruise past Pakistan

Kyle Jamieson quickly showed Black Caps fans what they had long been missing, collecting new best figures while shutting down Pakistan in the first T20.

An understrength New Zealand eased to a nine-wicket win to begin the five-match series on Sunday, with Jamieson (3-8) and Jacob Duffy (4-14) reducing the tourists to 11-4 in a destructive powerplay in Christchurch.

Pakistan eventually scratched their way to 91 before the Black Caps reached their target in the 11th over, with the damage well and truly done in the opening overs of the match.

Jamieson was playing his first home international since February 2024 – and first white-ball international in New Zealand since April 2022 – after an injury-plagued run denied Kiwi crowds a chance to see the towering seamer in full flight.

“It’s been a long last year and a long couple of years, really,” Jamieson told TVNZ. “It’s just nice to be on the park and nice to be fit and healthy.”

The 30-year-old suffered a second stress fracture in his back during a test victory over South Africa at Bay Oval 13 months ago, embarking on an extended rehabilitation period before returning to domestic cricket with Canterbury late last year.

Initially overlooked for Champions Trophy selection, Jamieson was recalled when Lockie Ferguson was ruled out of the tournament, taking three wickets in four matches on low and slow pitches as the Black Caps were beaten by India in the final.

Back home at Hagley Oval, the Cantabrian took three wickets in his first three overs, ceding only four runs to leave Pakistan staggering.

“It was a lot friendlier for us quicks than it was the last two or three weeks,” Jamieson said of the comparison to Pakistan and Dubai. “It had a little bit of swing and seam and bounce – just what we’re used to at Hagley.

“You try to bowl your stock ball as long as possible, then if the game or conditions or the way they approach it makes you change, you change it then. But it’s about sticking with plan A as long as possible.

“We had favourable conditions the whole way through, so it was just about trying to keep that seam upright and see what happens.

“It was nice to be back home and we’ll certainly take those conditions around the country.”

Pakistan will be hoping for the opposite given Duffy also recorded new best figures, having like Jamieson missed the Champions Trophy squad only to make a late trip following an injury to Ben Sears.

With fellow seamer Zak Foulkes (1-11 from three) also providing a challenge, the tourists could have been dismissed even earlier but for three spilled catches.

As it was, Tim Seifert atoned for two bad drops – the wicketkeeper having ceded the gloves to Mitch Hay – by cracking 44 from 29, before Finn Allen (29no off 17) finished off the chase in his first international since last June.

The two openers both earned reprieves after declining central contract to pursue franchise opportunities, with the Black Caps missing a host of frontline players through commitments in the Indian Premier League.

Jamieson, made an instant millionaire in the 2021 auction following his explosive introduction to international cricket, may be hoping another healthy season or two will be enough to rejoin them.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission