Kane Williamson scored 31 runs in the loss to Pakistan. Photo: David Gray/Photosport Ltd 2021
The Black Caps lost to Pakistan in their first game of the T20 tri-series in Christchurch.
After electing to bat first, New Zealand were restricted to 147-8 from 20 overs.
Pakistan chased down the required runs with 10 balls to spare and with six wickets in hand.
The Black Caps' top order struggled to get going at Hagley Oval.
Opener Devon Conway top scored with 36 runs but his partnership with skipper Kane Williamson of 61 runs off 52 balls was described by Williamson as "scrappy" and exeplified New Zealand's challenges with the bat.
In one over Mark Chapman scored 22 runs off Mohammad Nawaz but that was the only over in which New Zealand scored 12 runs or more.
The last three overs of the New Zealand innings saw 17 runs scored with five wickets lost.
In reply, Pakistan's Babar Azam steered the chase with an unbeaten 79.
Quickfire cameos from Shdab Khan and Haider Ali helped Pakistan seal the win.
The Black Caps took two early wickets but Shadab and Babar combined through the middle overs to score 61 off 42 balls and reduce the required rate to around a run-a-ball to allow the visitors to cruise to victory.
Babar smashed Blair Tickner for 21 runs in the 18th over to secure Pakistan's second win of the series.
A minor abdominal injury to fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has depleted New Zealand further in the ongoing tri-series.
The hosts were already without allrounders Daryl Mitchell, who has been sidelined from the entire tri-series with a fractured finger, and Mitchell Santner, who will join the squad on Sunday after his paternity break.
Given Ferguson's history of injuries - he had also been ruled out of last year's T20 World Cup with a calf tear - New Zealand will have to manage him carefully in the lead-up to this year's T20 World Cup.
Coach Gary Stead has said that there's a chance that Ferguson too might miss the entire tri-series.
The Black Caps play Bangladesh in their second game of the series on Sunday.