Mohammad Nawaz guided Pakistan to victory. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
A timely captain's knock, safe hands in the field and senior bowler struggles were on show in the Black Caps loss to Pakistan in the final of the T20 tri-series in Christchurch.
Pakistan lift the inaugural tri-series silverware after a five-wicket win. It was a result that was decided with three balls remaining.
Sent in to bat, New Zealand posted 163-7 in 20 overs.
Captain Kane Williamson top scored with 59 runs off 38 balls and number four batter Glenn Phillips contributed 29 off 22 balls at Hagley Oval.
New Zealand's openers did not fire for the first time in the tri-series with Finn Allen out for 12 off 6 balls and Devon Conway out for his lowest total in five matches of 14.
The Black Caps lost late wickets as they pushed to put on a total they could defend.
Haris Rauf in his 50th T20 international was the best with the ball for Pakistan, picking up 2-22 from his four overs.
In reply, Pakistan started strongly - getting nine runs off the first over - as Tim Southee in his 100th T20 international was off target.
And New Zealand's other senior paceman Trent Boult leaked 10 runs in the second over.
But it was spinner Ish Sodhi who was targeted by Pakistan, going for 58 runs off his four overs.
Sodhi bowled the 15th over which was the turning point of the match when he was hit for 25 runs.
Pakistan's captain Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan combined to put on 29 runs for the first wicket before Babar Azam was out and Rizwan pushed on to score 34 runs.
Pakistan's middle order of Mohammad Nawaz (38 off 22) and Haider Ali (31 off 15) set the platform for victory and Iftikhar Ahmed was there at the end with 25 off 14 as Pakistan won the final with a six struck by Iftikhar.
"The way the middle order played was outstanding. Haider and Nawaz are outstanding, we needed to step up and perform," captain Babar Azam said.
New Zealand counterpart Williamson said they tried their best to defend a "competitive" total but Pakistan's middle order made the difference.
"Credit for the way Pakistan middle order came out and changed momentum, because it wasn't easy for guys coming in to try and get the rhythm of the surface," Williamson said.
Michael Bracewell was named as the player of the tournament and was New Zealand's top bowler on Friday taking 2-14 in the final.
He told Spark Sport that Pakistan's ability to restrict the New Zealand batters in the final two overs of the first innings was a game-changer.
"If we're looking pretty critically that was what probably won and lost us the game was those last couple of overs at both ends. A little bit disappointing but we can take a lot of positives moving forward in the world cup."
New Zealand had catching woes throughout the series but managed to keep hold of a few of the balls the Pakistan players lofted into the outfield to take wickets.
The Black Caps open their T20 World Cup campaign against Australia on 22 October.
