First Twenty20 International
Dubai
Pakistan 161-8 (Imran Nazir 58) v New Zealand 112
Pakistan beat New Zealand by 49 runs
Pakistan showed just why they are the reigning world Twenty20 champions with a convincing 49-run win in the first of two internationals against New Zealand in Dubai.
Opener Imran Nazir smashed 58 from 38 balls to help his side post a total of 161-8 on a pitch that wasn't easy for the batsmen.
The Kiwis certainly found life tough in their reply, slipping from 25 without loss to 41-4 before eventually being bowled out for 112.
Pakistan had suffered a collapse of their own earlier in the day despite Nazir helping them get off to a superb start after they had been put into bat.
The opener reached his second T20 half-century by hitting Nathan McCullum for six, one of four maximums in his knock. He also managed five fours.
Dangerous Bond
However when he was dismissed by Shane Bond, who finished with impressive figures of 2-17 from his four overs, the innings began to subside.
From 92-2 Pakistan quickly slipped to 116-5, part-time leg-spinner Aaron Redmond removing the dangerous Shahid Afridi for 24 and then taking a return catch off Shoaib Malik (six) before pulling up with a groin strain.
Abdul Razzaq at least produced some late hitting to boost the final score, the all-rounder making an unbeaten 26 from 15 balls.
With Redmond unable to bat due to his injury and Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram already sidelined, an understrength New Zealand line-up never came close to reaching their target of 162.
Sohail Tanvir removed Martin Guptill in the second over before fellow seamer Mohammad Aamer picked up the key wickets of Brendon McCullum, the stand-in skipper departing for 19, and Ross Taylor in the space of one run.
When all-rounder Neil Broom became Razzaq's second wicket the Black Caps had lost half their side for just 67 runs.
Debutant Bradley-John Watling and Nathan McCullum offered some resistance, the pair both making 22 to at least get the score into three figures before Pakistan wrapped up the win midway through the 19th over.
