The Black Caps have continued their winning ways, securing a five-wicket victory in game one of their T20 series against Pakistan.
Photo: © Copyright Andrew Cornaga 2020 / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd
Chasing 154 to start the three-match series, New Zealand eventually got home with seven balls to spare at Auckland's Eden Park on Friday night.
Opener Tim Seifert played the key role in the chase, anchoring the innings with 57 of 43 balls in almost 15 overs at the crease.
That platform allowed Mark Chapman (34), Glenn Phillips (23), Jimmy Neesham (15) and stand-in skipper Mitchell Santner (12) to bring the Black Caps home, the latter wrapping the win up with a six over backward square leg in the penultimate over of the match.
Earlier, it had looked like the home team's margin of victory might be much wider.
Having lost the toss and been handed the ball, New Zealand started superbly with the ball and, at one point, had the visitors reeling at 39-5.
Those early stages of the game included a dream start to the international career of Jacob Duffy, the Southlander taking a wicket in his first over and two more in his second.
After completing his first spell, Duffy then came within millimetres of pulling off a stunning one-handed catch on the boundary, only denied when he couldn't quite prevent his hand from barely sliding into the rope.
Pakistan's fightback with the bat was led by captain Shadab Khan, who mixed composure with power to make 42 off 32 before he was the fourth wicket for the debutant.
No 8 Faheem Ashraf was also key in giving the tourists something to bowl at, hitting 31 off 18.
Ultimately, though, it wasn't enough, several New Zealand batsman chipping in to ensure the team's winning run stayed in tact heading into game two in Hamilton on Sunday.
Duffy's final figures of 4-33 off four overs were the best for a Black Cap on T20 international debut, fellow seamer Scott Kuggeleijn chiming in with 3-27.