DUBAI - New Zealand have lost by 49 runs to world champions Pakistan after another fragile batting effort in today's first of two Twenty20 internationals here.
Opener Imran Nazir lifted Pakistan to a competitive 161-8 on a pitch of variable bounce before the bowlers unleashed a tight line and length
to dismiss New Zealand for 112 in 18.3 overs.
The victory was Pakistan's 20th in 26 Twenty20 internationals and their third in as many matches against the Black Caps.
Brendon McCullum, leading the side in the absence of an unwell Daniel Vettori, raised hopes by smashing 17 off the first over bowled by Mohammad Aamir.
But Aamir came back strongly by claiming McCullum, 19, in his second and Ross Taylor, five, in his third to quash any hopes of an upset. Aamir finished with 2-21.
Abdul Razzaq (2-9) then dismissed Scot Styris (four) and Neil Broom (14) before spinners Shahid Afridi (2-21) and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (2-18) wrapped up the New Zealand's innings.
The second match will be played here on Friday.
Pakistan lost the preceding three-match one-day series 2-1.
Earlier, Nazir hit five boundaries and four towering sixes off 38 balls before New Zealand, who put Pakistan into bat, hit back by taking the last six wickets in the space of 69 runs.
Nazir and Kamran Akmal (13) took Pakistan to 34 as Nazir hit two successive sixes off Ian Butler's fifth over.
Nazir added a quickfire 36 with captain Afridi (24), also completing his second Twenty20 half-century off just 34 balls. Paceman Shane Bond had Nazir caught in the outfield in the 12th over to put the brakes on the innings.
Aaron Redmond, bowling occasional leg-breaks for the first time in a limited overs match, dismissed Afridi for 24 and Shoaib Malik (six) to finish with 2-24, before hobbling off with a groin injury.
Abdul Razzaq hit a 15-ball 26 with three boundaries and a six to give Pakistan's innings a final flourish.
New Zealand started the match without Vettori who was ordered to undergo a CT scan after being hit on the grill of his helmet during the second one-day international at Abu Dhabi and began to feel unwell.
McCullum led the team, which was also missing pacemen Kyle Mills (shoulder) and James Franklin (back).
SCOREBOARD
Pakistan
Imran Nazir c Redmond b Bond 58
Kamran Akmalb c Bond b Southee 13
Umar Akmal c Watling b Styris 3
Shahid Afridi c Southee b Redmond 24
Shoaib Malik c & b Redmond 6
Fawad Alam c Butler b Bond 15
Abdul Razzaq not out 26
Sohail Tanvir c N McCullum b Southee 12
Mohammad Aamer c sub b Southee 2
Extras (w1, nb1) 2
Total (for 8 wkts, 19.6 overs) 161
Fall: 34 56 92 101 116 134 158 161.
Bowling: S Bond 4-1-17-2, T Southee 3.6-0-28-3, I Butler 3-0-42-0, S Styris 4-0-32-1, N McCullum 2.1-0-18-0, A Redmond 2.5-0-24-2.
New Zealand
B McCullum c Alam b Aamer 19
M Guptill c b Akmal b Tanvir 8
L Taylor c b Akmal b Aamer 5
S Styris c Akmal b Razzaq 4
BJ Watling st b Akmal b Ajmal 22
N Broom c Gul b Razzaq 14
N McCullum c Gul b Ajmal 22
I Butler b Afridi 1
S Bond not out 7
T Southee not out 0
Extras (8lb, 2w) 10
Total(8 wkts, 18.2 overs) 112
Fall: 25 33 34 41 67 95 98 106.
Bowling: Mohammad Aamer 3-1-21-2, Sohail Tanvir 4-0-22-1, Abdul Razzaq 3-0-9-2, Umar Gul 2-0-13-0, Shahid Afridi 3.2-0-21-1, Saeed Ajmal 3-0-18-2.
Result: Pakistan won by 49 runs.
- AFP
DUBAI - New Zealand have lost by 49 runs to world champions Pakistan after another fragile batting effort in today's first of two Twenty20 internationals here.
Opener Imran Nazir lifted Pakistan to a competitive 161-8 on a pitch of variable bounce before the bowlers unleashed a tight line and length
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