Black Caps bowler Kyle Jamieson appeals for a wicket during the first T20 against Pakistan at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, 16 March. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Black Caps have crushed Pakistan in the first of their five-match T20 series by nine wickets at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Pace bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy did the damage on a pitch that suited them with a sensational start that had Pakistan reeling at three wickets for just one run.
Jamieson was lethal, taking the wicket of Mohammad Haris, with just the sixth ball of the innings, while Duffy struck just two balls later removing Hasan Nawaz.
Irfan Khan went in Jamieson's next over, and Shadab Khan fell to the same bowler with Tim Robinson taking a sharp catch.
Captain Salman Agha (18) and Khushdil Shah (32) did their best to resurrect the innings with a 46-run partnership, but when they fell within the space of 11 balls, it was going to be a struggle to get to 100.
They were all out in the 19th over for 91, with Jamieson taking three for eight off his four overs, while Duffy claimed the wicket honours, with four for 14 off 3.4 overs.
Opener Tim Seifert blazed at the top of the New Zealand order, making the result a formality with his 44 from 29 deliveries, which included seven boundaries and a six.
Finn Allen (29 not out from 17 balls) and Tim Robinson (18 not out from 15 balls) saw the team through to victory without further loss.
Player of the match Jamieson said it was a big benefit returning from the Champions Trophy final in Dubai to a pitch assisting bounce in Christchurch.
They were "pretty favourable conditions" that he and Duffy were able to exploit, he told Sky Sport.
"It was nice to have those and just cash in as much as we could."
Pakistan captain Salman Agha said his batters found the swing and seam generated by Jamieson and Duffy tough to cope with.
"It was obviously difficult. We were not up to the mark. We do not have much time, we need to regroup as quickly as we can."
The second match is in Dunedin on Tuesday.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.