Pakistan bowl first, Santner ruled out of series opener with Covid

New Zealand won by 46 runs

Chasing 227, only Babar Azam was able to push on with fifty which wasn't enough for a win

New Zealand 226 for 7 (Mitchell 61, Williamson 57, Abbas 3-46) beat Pakistan 180 (Babar 57, Southee 4-25)

In a frenzied, fun game at Eden Park in Auckland in front of a raucous weekend crowd, New Zealand beat Pakistan by 46 runs to pour cold water over Shaheen Afridi's coronation as T20I captain. New Zealand took advantage of a somewhat indifferent display with the ball from a Pakistani side that had opted to field first, with Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson striking half-centuries to top up a blistering attack from Finn Allen. Pakistan tried to pull things back with debutant Abbas Afridi's 3 for 34 an admirable display in hostile bowling conditions, but it wouldn't stop the home side from amassing 226. thanks to a late cameo from Mark Chapman.

Pakistan responded by unleashing the fury of a side out to prove a point, but lacked in control and pacing what New Zealand had possessed. The home side continued to chip away with regular wickets to dent Pakistan in pursuit of the colossus of a total, and despite a blazing start, the visitors never could get the asking rate under control.

Tim Southee, who became the first player to bring up 150 T20I wickets, was instrumental in reining Pakistan back in with four more wickets. A phenomenal second over where Mohammad Rizwan was tied up and eventually dismissed with a slower ball set the tone, and he would account for Iftikhar Ahmed at a pivotal moment in the chase later on.

There were plenty of cameos across the top six, but only Babar Azam was able to push on, bringing up a good-looking half-century in 33 balls. But Babar was never the man fully equipped to power through as the asking rate had soared beyond 14, and as he fell, Pakistan's challenge fizzled out with something of a whimper. Pakistan lost the last four wickets in 11 balls for seven runs as they folded for 180, giving the home side the initial edge in the series.

More to follow

Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo's Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000

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