'Plenty of positives’ despite defeat – Kane Williamson

Mohammad Hafeez’s 36-ball 45 and Sarfraz Ahmed’s 26-ball 34 had helped Pakistan set a target of 149, despite a wobbly start, but New Zealand were favourites to hunt it down with Colin Munro hammering a 42-ball 58.

However, after his dismissal, New Zealand were reduced to 89/4. Ross Taylor kept up the fight at one end, and ensured the chase went down to the wire, even as wickets fell at the other end.

New Zealand needed six off the final ball to take the match into a Super Over. Taylor managed just four, off Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Pakistan won a thriller by two runs.

Munro said the Pakistan bowlers deserved the win. "I lost my wicket and then Kane got out, sort of like a bang-bang, and after the Power play, their spinners came on and squeezed," he said. "You've got to give them credit.

“They bowled really well, they know these conditions really well and it suited them a little bit tonight, and we just got outplayed, I reckon.

“It was a pretty even game and we didn't really lose our way anywhere, I don't think. They just bowled really well, and we just couldn't capitalise through the middle there."

Despite the loss, Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, said there were plenty of positives his side could take.

"You could look at heaps of different parts to the game, whether that was bat or ball,” he said. “There were a lot of positives to take out of it and we've seen in T20 cricket over here how clinical Pakistan are. It just means refining little bits of your game and it can make all the difference.

"Colin [Munro] played beautifully and got a few away, and gave us a really good power play. Then, in those middle phases, spin over here can be quite challenging and you do have to soak up those dot balls."

"It was a good game of cricket. Pakistan deserved to win, but we need to learn and move on quickly."

The second T20I will be played in Dubai on Friday.