[Watch] Ish Sodhi plucks a terrific one-handed catch to end Fakhar Zaman's stay in NZ vs PAK 1st T20I

New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi took a terrific one-handed catch to end Fakhar Zaman's stay in the ongoing 1st T20I against Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland. With the ball dying on him, the Ludhiana-born cricketer flung himself to his left and caught the ball one-handed.

The dismissal occurred in the 9th over of the innings as Sodhi came on for his 2nd. The low full toss by the wrist-spinner was merely chipped by Zaman and the 31-year-old stuck his left hand out to catch the ball, displaying his reflexes. He was visibly fired on taking the catch as the hosts got a crucial wicket.

Sodhi went expensive in his very first over, leaking 13 runs as ace batter Babar Azam carted him for a couple of boundaries. The bowler eventually finished with 3-0-33-1.

New Zealand set Pakistan 227-run target before Ish Sodhi gets among the wickets

Kane Williamson. (Credits: Getty)

Meanwhile, New Zealand amassed a steep total of 227 after Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and elected to field first. The tourists dropped at least three catches on the field, including Babar fluffing a take off Williamson, who went on to score a half-century.

However, Mitchell top-scored with 61 and added 78 with the skipper off only 40 deliveries. While Afridi took a wicket off the 2nd ball, Finn Allen set the tone with his 15-ball 34, laced with 3 fours and as many maximums.

Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman also contributed well with their timely cameos. Shaheen and Abbas Afridi took 3 wickets each. However, Aamer Jamal, who had a stellar Test series in Australia, endured a forgettable day, leaking 55 runs in his quota of 4 overs.

Ahead of the series opener, New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner tested positive for COVID-19, ruling him out of the match. The Kiwis eventually won by 46 runs, bowling the tourists out for 180.