Blackcaps win by five wickets. Click here for a full wrap and match highlights.
Pakistan 153/9 - Shadab 42 (32), Duffy 4/33, Kuggeleijn 3/27
Blackcaps 156/5 - Seifert 57 (43), Chapman 34 (20), Phillips 23 (18), Rauf 3/29
Man of the match: Jacob Duffy
19th over - Wahab Riaz to bowl the second to last over. New Zealand need 6 off 12 balls.
After a dot ball to start the over, Santner chips one over cover for two runs.
After two dot balls, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner smashes Riaz over fine leg for six to seal the victory for the Blackscaps. New Zealand win by five wickets.
18th over - Shaheen is back into the attack with New Zealand need 21 from 18 balls.
Shaheen starts with a full ball and Neesham has smashed him down the ground for six.
After a dot ball, Shaheen goes short but it's to short and it's called a wide.
After a dot ball, Nesham has smashed Shaheen over cow corner for six. That could be the nail in the coffin.
Neesham tries to flick Shaheem down to fine leg but it comes off his pad and the batsman come through for a single. As Neesham looks to turn and look for a second run but he's slipped and has rolled his ankle. Pakistan review the decision but replays show it's missing leg stump.
The last ball of the over sees Santner drive Shaheen down the ground for a single. (NZ 148/5)
17th over - Harris Rauf back into the attack. New Zealand need 27 from 24 balls.
The first ball of the over sees Neesham guide one out to point for a single.
The next ball sees Rauf go down the leg side for a wide.
OUT - Chapman tries to flick Rauf away but he has missed it and it has crashes into his pad. It's plumb in front, so Chapman on his way.
Chapman LBW Rauf 34 (20)
New Zealand cpatain is the next man in.
Rauf goes short and it clips the gloves of Santner and it lands just short of third man and Santner comes through for a single.
After a dot ball, Neesham guides Rauf down to third man for a single.
The last ball of the over sees Santner flick Rauf out throuhg mid-wicket for two runs. (NZ 133/5)
16th over - Wahab Riaz is back into the attack.
Chapman starts the over with a singleout through square leg.
Neesham guides Riaz down to third man for a single.
The next ball sees Chapman smash Riaz straight down the ground for six.
What a mistake. Riaz goes short and Chapman tries to pull him away down to fine leg. Faheem has dropped a simple catch and it's run away for four.
The last ball of the over, sees Chapman carve Riaz away down the ground for four. (NZ 127/4)
15th over - Shaheen is back into the attack. The Blackcaps need 45 from 36 balls.
After two dot balls, Chapman swats one down the ground for a single.
OUT - Seifert tries to flick Shaheen away but doesn't get all of it. Ashraf running back takes a great catch at mid-wicket.
Seifer c Ahsraf b Shaheen 57 (43)
Jimmy Nesham is the next man in.
The next ball sees, Chapman drive Shaheen down the ground for a single. (NZ 111/4)
14th over - Harris Rauf is back into the attack for Pakistan. New Zealand need 53 from 42 balls at 7.75 runs per over.
After a dot ball to start the over, Seifert drops Rauf at his feet and comes through for a quick single.
The next ball sees Chapman skews him down to square leg for a single.
Seifert tries to pull Rauf away but catches the edge and lands just short of fine leg.
Chapman cuts Rauf away down to third-man and it races away for four.
The last ball of the over sees Chapman get a single. (NZ 109/3)
13th over - Shadab is back into the attack.
Chapman pulls Shadab away through mid-wicket for a single.
Seifert edges one over the top of point and will come through for a single.
Chapman flicks Shadab off his pads through square leg for a single.
Seifert cuts Shadab out through point for a single.
Shadab goes short and Chapman sweeps him away through fine leg for four.
Off the last man of the over, Chapman flicks Shadab away through mid-wicket for two runs. (NZ 101/3)
12th over - Wahab Riaz back into the attack.
Seifert punches Riaz down the ground and a mis-field from Pakistan has seen the ball race away for four.
The next ball sees Seifert cut Riaz away down to third man for a single.
Chapman keeps the scoreboard ticking over with a single down to fine leg.
Seifert flicks Riaz off his pads down to fine leg for two runs to bring up his 50 his fourth T20 half century. An important innings from the New Zealand but he'll need to go with it.
Off the last ball of the over Seifert turns Riaz down to fine leg for two runs (NZ 91/3)
11th over - Ashraf to continue. New Zealand need 82 from 60 balls.
Phillips punches Ashraf down the ground for a single.
The next ball sees Chapman turn Ashraf down to third man for a single.
Seifer tries tries to smash Ashraf away but gets a leading edge and lands safely down at third man and they come back for two runs.
Seifert guides one down past the keeper for four.
The last ball of the over sees Seifert take a quick single to cover and Chapman has to dive to make his ground. (NZ 81/3)
10th over - Harris Rauf is into the attack.
OUT - Phillips tries to smash Rauf away through mid-wicket but he doesn't get all of it and Khushdil takes an easy catch.
Phillips c Khushdil b Rauf 23 (18)
Mark Chapman is the next man in
The next ball sees Seifert guide Rauf down to third man for a single.
Chapan gets off the mark straight away with a quick single to cover.
After a dot ball, Seifert edges one down to third man for four runs.
The last ball of the over sees Seifert punch Rauf out into the covers for a single. (NZ 72/3)
Ninth over - A change in the bowling for Pakistan with Ashraf back into the attack.
After three dot balls, Phillips cuts Ashraf away through the covers for four.
The next balls sees Phillips punch Ashraf off the back foot through the covers for four. (NZ 65/2)
Eighth over - Imad is back into the attack.
Seifert cuts Imad away through point for a single to start the over.
The next ball sees Phillips cut Imad away for a dot ball.
After a dot ball, Seifert has smashed Imad down the ground for six. What a shot.
Two dot balls to end the over. (NZ 60/2)
Seventh over - The captain Shadab Khan is into the attack
Shadab starts short and Philips smashes him off the back foot through mid-wicket for six.
The next ball sees Phillips pull Shadab down to fine leg for two runs.
Phillips flicks Shadab into the leg side for a single.
The next ball sees Seifert turn Shadab into mid-wicket for a single.
Phillips gets an inside edge that almost takes out his leg stump and runs down to fine leg for a single.
Last ball of the over, sees Seifert get a single. (NZ 52/2)
Sixth over - Wahab Riaz to bowl the sixth over.
Phillips gets one on his hips and he flicks Riaz down to fine leg for four.
The next ball sees Phillips take a quick single to cover.
After a dot ball, Seifert dances down the wicket and smashes Riaz over backard point for four.
The last ball of the over sees Seifert turn Riaz down to fine leg for two runs. (NZ 40/2)
Fifth over - A change in the bowling for Pakistan with Faheem Ashraf coming into the attack.
After a dot ball to start the over, Seifert turns Ashraf into the leg side for a single.
Phillips pushes one to cover and takes a quick single. Seifert has to dive to make his ground.
Seifert cuts Ashraf away through backward point for a single.
The last ball of the over sees Phillips push Ashraf into the covers for a single. (NZ 29/2)
Fourth over - Haris Rauf comes into the attack.
Rauf goes full and outside off-stump and Conway drives him through the covers for four.
The next ball sees a big shout for caught behind but umpire gives it not out. Pakistan will review. It a peach of a delivery from Rauf who squares Conway up. The replays show it has clipped the back pad so Conway survives.
OUT - Rauf doesn't have to wait long to get his man. The next ball sees Conway drive Rauf straight back at him and he takes a smart catch.
Conway c&b Rauf 5 (4)
Glenn Phillips is the next man in.
After a dot ball to start his innings, Phillips cuts Rauf away through backward point for four to get off the mark. (NZ 25/2)
Third over - Shaheen to continue.
OUT - Guptil tries to drive Shaheen down the ground but doesn't get all of it. Captain Shadab runs back at full speed and takes a stunnuing catch over his head.
Guptil c Shadab b Shaheen 6 (10)
The next man in is Devon Conway.
The next ball sees Seifert turn Shaheen into the leg side and the batsman come through for two runs.
Shaheen bowls one down the leg side and it's a wide.
The next ball sees Seifert punch Shaheen down the ground for four.
Seifert guides the next ball down to third man for a single.
The last ball of the over sees Conway drive Shaheen down the ground to mid-on for a single to get off the mark. (NZ 17/1)
Second over - Imad Wasim to bowl the second over.
Seifert punches one down the ground for a single.
After two dot balls, Guptil cuts Imad away through third man for four runs.
The next ball sees Guptil drop Imad into the leg side for a single.(NZ 8/0)
First over - Shaheen Afridi has ball in hand with Martin Guptil and Tim Seifert are opening for New Zealand.
After three dot balls, Guptil drops Shaheen into the off-side and the batsman come through for a quick single.
Seifert edges one onto his pads and it skews out onto the off-side and the batsman come through for a single. (NZ 2/0)
New Zealand innings
20th over - Tickner to bowl the final over.
Tickner goes full and Shaeen smashes Tickner down the ground for six.
The next ball sees the batsman scamper through for a bye after Shaeen couldn't make contact,
OUT - Ashraf tries to pull Tickner away through mid-wicket but Guptil on the boundary takes an easy catch on the second attempt.
Ashraf c Guptil b Tickner 31 (18)
Rauf is the next man in.
Shaheen tries to pull Tickner away but it catches the edges and flies over the keeper and the batsman come back for two runs.
The next ball sees Tickner go short and it's hit Shaheen and the batsman scamper through for a leg-bye.
The last ball of the over sees Rauf take a big swing but can't make contact and they come through for a bye. (PAK 153/9)
19th over - Kuggeleijn is back into the attack.
Wahab tries to smashes Kuggeleijn away but it goes straight up but Duffy has put him down.
OUT - Wahab tries to smash Kuggeleijn down the ground. He doesn't get all of it and Santner goes back and takes a good catch at mid-off.
Wahab c Santner b Kuggeleijn 9 (5)
The next ball sees Kuggeleijn give Ashraf some width and he cuts him away for four through backward point.
A miss-field from Kuggeleijn has seen Ashraf sneak through for a quick single.
Afridi keeps a full ball out and it runs down to mid-on for a single. (PAK 142/8)
18th over - Duffy back into the attack.
OUT - Duffy gets his third for the evening. Shadab tries to flick Duffy through square leg but he gets a top edge and running back Sodhi takes a stunning catch.
Shadab c Sodhi b Duffy 42 (32)
The next man in is Wahab Riaz.
The next ball sees Ashraf guide Duffy down to thid man for a single.
Wahab gets a lucky break. He tries to pull Duffy away but it catches the edge and flies over the keeper for six.
The next ball sees Duffy go short and Wahab pulls him away for a single.
Duffy goes full and Ashraf smashes him down the ground for six.
Duffy goes down the leg side and Ashraf has smashed him over fine leg for six. What a way to end the over. (PAK 134/7)
17th over - A change in the bowling for New Zealand with Tickner back into the attack.
The first ball of the over sees Tickner go down the leg side and it's a wide.
The next ball sees Ashraf take a quick single to cover.
Shadab cuts one down to third man and the batsman scamper through for two runs.
The next ball sees Shadab cut Tickner away through point but it only finds Guptil on the boundary and they get one run.
Tickner goes down the leg side again and it's another wide.
Ashraf tries to smashes Tickner away but it comes off the pads and the batsman come through for a leg bye.
A slower ball from Tickner and it fools Shadab and he can only squirt it away for a single.
A short ball from Tickner sees Ashraf pull him away for six runs. (PAK 114/6)
16th over - Santner is back into the attack.
After two dot balls to start the over, there is a big shout for LBW but it's turned down for going down leg. The Blackcaps have reviewed it but replays show it has pitched out side leg-stump.
After five dot balls, Ashraf guides Santner down to third man for a single.
Great over from Santner just one run from it. (PAK 100/6)
15th over - Sodhi to continue.
Sodhi drags one down and Shadab pulls him all the way for six over square leg.
The next ball sees Shadab cut Sodhi out to cover for a single.
Ashraf drives Sodhi down the ground for a single.
The next ball sees Shadab cut Sodhi away through backward point for two runs.
Sodhi drags another one down and Shadab smashes Sodhi straight down the ground for six. Great shot.
16 from the over. (PAK 99/6)
14th over - A change in the bowling for New Zealand with Scott Kuggeleijn into the attack.
A little bit of width from Kuggeleijn and Imad cuts him away through backward point for four runs.
The next ball sees Imad drives Kuggeleijn down the ground for a single.
A ball with extra pace sees Shadab knock it down at his feet and the batsman scamper through for a quick single.
OUT - Imad tries to guide Kuggeleijn down to third man but Imad puts it down to Tickner who takes the easy catch.
Imad c Tickner b Kuggeleijn 14 (12)
Faheem Ashraf is the next man in.
The last ball of the over sees Ashraf drive Kuggeleijn over cover for four. Great shot to get off the mark. (PAK 83/6)
13th over - Santner to continue.
The first ball of the over sees Imad guide Santner down to third-man for a single.
After a dot ball Shadab gets an easy single.
Imad smashes Santner through the covers for four. Great shot.
Imad takes an easy single out to mid-wicket to keep scoreboard ticking over. (PAK 73/5)
12th over - A change in the bowling for New Zealand with Ish Sodhi into the attack.
The first ball of the over sees Shadab tries to smash Sodhi through the covers and it goes straight to Phillips but he's put an easy catch down.
The next ball sees Imad punch Sodhi down the ground for a single.
Shadab smashes Sodhi back over his head for six. Great shot.
The next balls sees Shadab sweep Sodhi down to fine leg for a single.
Imad smashes Sodhi through mid-wicket but doesn't get any of it and loops away for a single.
Poor ball from Sodhi and Shadab sweeps Sodhi away down to fine-leg for four. 15 from the over. (PAK 66/5)
11th over - Santner is back into the attack.
The first ball sees Imad turn Santner down to fine-leg for a single.
After two dot balls, Shadab punches Santner through point for a single.
The last ball of the over sees Imad flicks Santner through mid-wicket for a single. (PAK 51/5)
10th over - Tickner to continue.
After a dot ball to start the over, Shadab skews one out to square leg for a single.
The next ball sees Imad get a edge to square leg but it lands safe and they come through for a single.
NOT OUT - Are you kidding, what a catch from Duffy. Shadab tries to smash Tickner over fine-leg. It looks like going over Duffy's head but he leaps up and takes an amazing one-handed catch. But on review, it shows Duffy's hand has just touched the boundary rope so it will be four runs. (PAK 48/5)
Ninth over - Sodhi to continue
OUT - The wickets keep coming for New Zealand. Khushdil tries to sweep Sodhi away but can only get a top edge. It goes straight up and Guptil takes a simple catch.
Khushdil c Guptil b Sodhi 16 (20)
Imad Wasim is the next man in.
The next ball sees Shadab pull Sodhi down to long-on for a single.
Off Imad's first ball, sees him turn Sodhi into mid-wicket for a single.
The last ball of the over Shadab drives Sodhi down the ground for a single. (PAK 42/5)
Eighth over - A change of bowler for Ne Zealand Blair Tickner is into the attack.
After two dot balls, Tickner goes down the leg-side and Khushdil flicks him down to fine-leg for four.
The next ball sees Khushdil crush Tickner away through the covers but great fielding from Phillips saves four runs and the batsman can only get one run.
Shadab guides Tickner down to third-man for a single.
The last ball of the over sees Khushdil drive Tickner down the ground for a single. (PAK 39/4)
Seventh over - End of the batting powerplay, so more fielder can go outside the 30m circle. Ish Sodhi comes into the attack.
The first balls sees Khushdil flicks Sodhi through mid-wicket for a single.
Shadab gets an inside edge and it runs down to fine-leg for a single.
Off the last ball of the over, Khushdil cuts Sodhi away for a single through point. Just three runs off Sodhi's first over. (PAK 32/4)
Sixth over - Duffy to continue and he is on a hat-trick.
Duffy goes full and straight but Khushdil flicks him through mid-wicket for two runs.
After a dot ball, Khushdil takes a quick single down to mid-on.
The next ball sees is down the leg-side and it's a wide.
Duffy comes back well and finishes with two dot balls. (PAK 29/4)
Fifth over - Kuggeleijn to continue.
OUT - Three wickets in three balls for New Zealand. Kuggeleijn gets one to get some extra bounce which surprises Ali and it loops back to Kuggeleijn who takes an easy catch.
Ali c&b Kuggeleijn 3 (5)
The next man in is Khushdil Shah.
After four dot balls, Khushdil uses Kuggeleijn's pace and cuts him over the top of backward point for four runs.
The last ball of the over sees Khushdil take a quick single to mid-wicket. (PAK 25/4)
Fourth over - Duffy to continue with his second over.
After a dot ball to start the over, Duffy goes to straight and Rizwan flicks him over fine-leg for four runs.
The fourth ball of the over sees Rizwan hit Duffy straight back at him and he puts down a tough chance.
OUT - What a start to international cricket for Duffy. Rizwan dances down the wicket and tries to smash Duffy over cover but it comes off the toe of the bat and Phillips takes the easy catch.
Rizwan c Phillips b Duffy 17 (17)
Mohammad Hafeez is the next man in.
OUT - Duffy is on a hat-trick. Hafeez tries to smash him down the ground but the ball is to quick for him. He miss-times the shot and it loops to Chapman at mid-on who takes a simple catch.
Hafeez c Chapman b Duffy 0 (0) (PAK 20/3)
Third over - Scott Kuggeleijn is into the attack.
The first ball of the over sees Ali get a leading edge to just flies over the finger tips of Glen Phillips at point.
After a dot ball, Rizwan takes a quick single down to mid-on.
Off the last ball of the over Ali tries to go big but doesn't get all of it. It loops over mid-wicket and lands safely and they come through for two runs. (PAK 16/1)
Second over - Jacob Duffy will bowl the second over and his first over in International cricket.
After a dot ball to start the over Rizwan cuts Duffy through point for a single
OUT - Shafique tries to flick Duffy over mid-wicket but can only get a leading-edge and it flies to Chapman at mid-on to give Duffy his for International wicket.
Shafique c Chapman b Duffy 0 (2)
Haider Ali is the next man in.
The last ball of the over sees Ali cut Duffy and it flies through the slips and away for four runs. (PAK 12/1)
First over - Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique make their way to the middle for the visitors to open the batting with Mitchell Santner to open the bowling for New Zealand.
Santner darts one into the pads of Rizwan, which he can't get any bat on. Good start from New Zealand skipper.
A stroke of luck for Rizwan. Santner darts one in again towards the pads and Rizwan inside edges it just past his stumps and it runs away for four down to fine leg.
The next ball sees Rizwan turn Santner into square leg for two runs.
The last ball of the over sees Rizwan flick Santner through square leg for a single. (PAK 7/0)
*****
6:55pm - The players are making their way onto the field for the national anthems.
It's a perfect day in Auckland for cricket. It's still a warm 24 degrees, no wind and barely any clouds in the sky.
6:35pm - Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first.
Blackcaps: Martin Guptil, Tim Seifert, Glen Phillips, Devon Conway, Marck Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner
Todd Astle and Doug Bracewell miss out for New Zealand with Jacob Duffy to make his debut.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan (c), Khushdil Shah, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Shan Afridi, Haris Rauf
*****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the opening T20 international between the Blackcaps and Pakistan from Auckland's Eden Park.
Join us for live updates from 7pm.
The two sides are very evenly ranked with Blackcaps sixth in the T20 rankings while Pakistan are fourth.
The visitors have had a rocky start to their tour of New Zealand with eight members of the team testing positive for COVID-19, which resulted in the team not being able to train while in quarantine.
On top of this captain Babar Azam has been ruled out with a hand injury while T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan is also carrying a groin niggle.
The home side will be without Kane Williamson and Trent Boult for this first T20 while speedster Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out for six weeks with stress fracture to his back.
The Blackcaps come into this series in-form after sweeping the West Indies 2-0 in their last T20 series. For Pakistan they're on a four game win streak after sweeping Zimbabwe 3-0 and winning the last game of their three match series against England.
For both, this is the start of their build-ups towards next year's T20 World Cup in India.
TAB: New Zealand $1.48 Pakistan $2.50
Blackcaps batting legend Taylor dumped for Pakistan T20 series
Veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has been dropped for the Twenty20 series against Pakistan, while star fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has fallen to a lower back injury that threatens his short term future.
Captain Kane Williamson and front-line bowler Trent Boult have been recalled, after they were rested for last month's series against West Indies.
Taylor's omission is the result of spectacular middle-order form from Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips, says selector Gavin Larsen.
"This was, as you'd imagine, a very tough decision, as Ross has been a consistent performer for us," Larsen says. "But unfortunately we just couldn't find room in the squad for him, due to the quality and form of the other batsmen."
Taylor went scoreless in two T20 appearances against the Windies, run out without scoring in the first and not required to face a ball in the second.
But he won the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal as New Zealand's cricket player of the year last season, when he became the first man to play 100 international matches in T20, one-day and test formats.
Taylor, 36, has targeted retirement after next year's T20 World Cup in India, but this omission sends a warning that his days in the shortest form may be numbered.
Williamson's inclusion for the second and third match only depends on the birth of his first child, which saw him withdraw from the current second test against West Indies in Wellington.
Mitchell Santner will captain the side for the first match on December 18 in Auckland, with Williamson potentially returning for the other two games on December 20 in Hamilton and December 22 in Napier.
Pace bowlers Ferguson and Hamish Bennett have also both been ruled out of the series with injuries, ensuring a first call-up for Jacob Duffy.
Scans revealed that Ferguson has a stress fracture in his back, while Bennett was ruled out with an abdominal tear.
Ferguson tore West Indies apart in their T20 opener at Auckland, taking 5/21 and named Player of the Series.
"The injury to Lockie is obviously a concern, considering what he brings to our bowling attack and we're awaiting more information around his rehabilitation," says Larsen.
None of the players currently involved in the second test in Wellington will be available for the first Twenty20 game.
