Auckland (Web Desk): New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 46 runs in the first match of the T20I series at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.
Chasing a mammoth 227-run target, Pakistan was all out at 180 runs in 18 overs despite a good start.
Babar Azam remained the top scorer with 57 runs. Saim Ayub scored 27, Mohammad Rizwan 25 and Iftikhar Ahmed 24 runs. Aamer Jamal was not out at 14 runs.
Tim Southee bagged four wickets, Adam Milne and Ben Sears two each while Ish Sodhi took one wicket.
Daryll Mitchell was named player of the match.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first against New Zealand.
Finn Allen and David Conway opened the game and Conway fell victim to Shaheen Afridi's ball.
Finn Allen went back to pavilion with of 34 runs in 15 balls with the help of 3 sixes and 3 fours. He was dismissed by Abbas Afridi.
New Zealand's third wicket fell for 128 when Kane Williamson was dismissed for 57 runs, including 9 fours.
New Zealand's lost fourth wicket when Glenn Phillips was caught out by Babar Azam for just 19 runs and Daryl Mitchell returned to the pavilion off Shaheen Afridi. He played a brilliant innings of 61 runs off 27 balls.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Aamir Jamal, Usama Mir (Debut), Shaheen Afridi (c), Abbas Afridi (Debut), Haris Rauf
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Adam Milne, Matthew Henry, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears
