The Men in Green registered a comprehensive six-wicket win over hosts New Zealand in Christchurch on October 8 to take ascendancy first up in the ongoing tri-nation series.
Haris Rauf set it up with the ball, as did Shadab Khan, with the latter also starring in the run-chase led by Babar Azam to help Pakistan register a second consecutive win in the ongoing T20I tri-series
Having opted to bat, New Zealand top four never really got going, with Pakistan speedsters and spinners stemming the run flow significantly in the first half of the innings. Finn Allen was dismissed for an eight-ball 13 in the third over by Mohammad Wasim Jr, following which, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips batted at nearly run-a-ball, with the former two departing by the end of the 13th over, leaving the Blackcaps at 88/3.
Mark Chapman revived hopes of a strong finish with a brisk 32 off 16 that featured three fours and two sixes but got little support from the other end in an innings that ended at 147/8 in the allotted 20 overs. Rauf bagged 3/28, while Wasim (2/20) and Shadab (0/21) managed to put a squeeze to keep the Kiwis under sustained pressure.
Babar got Pakistan off to a flier in the chase, and even as Tim Southee and Blair Tickner dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood in quick succession, the visitors remained in firm control. Shadab, promoted to No.4, struck a fluent 34 off 22 in a steady third wicket stand with the captain, who registered his 30th fifty-plus score to see his side home. His unbeaten 79 off 53 featured 11 hits to the fence.
New Zealand will play Bangladesh in the third game of the competition on October 9, with both seeking a first win.
Brief scores
New Zealand 147/8 in 20 overs (Conway 36; Rauf 3-28) lost to Pakistan 148/4 in 18.2 overs (Azam 79*; Ticker 2-42) by six wickets
