The Blackcaps have been comprehensively outplayed by Pakistan in their Twenty20 tri-series opener against Pakistan, falling to a six-wicket loss at Christchurch on Saturday.
The tourists produced a ruthlessly clinical performance with both bat and ball to ease to an ultimately straightforward victory - their second in as many days, after soundly beating Bangladesh on Friday.
Following a highly disciplined bowling display during which they - incredibly - didn't concede a no ball or a wide in restricting the Kiwis to 147/8, captain Babar Azam lived up to his reputation with a masterful unbeaten 79 runs off 53 balls to ease his team to the finish line.
Perhaps the story may have been slightly different if Glenn Phillips - typically one of the Blackcaps' sharpest fielders - hadn't shelled an easy catch off the bowling of Tim Southee when Babar only had 27 runs to his name.
Either way, Pakistan were deseerved victors on a night of very few highlights for the New Zealanders.
After winning the toss and electing to field, the hosts made a sedate start to their innings.
After Allen departed early, Devon Conway and Kane Williamson occupied the crease and ticked runs over but struggled to find the rope against a highly disciplined Pakistan attack.
Their 61-run partnership came to an end when Williamson (31 off 30 balls) was bowled and Conway (36 off 35) followed quickly afterwards, with the NZ total meandering at 77/2 after 12 overs.
Aware they needed to step on the gas, the arrival of Mark Chapman briefly gave the innings the impetus it needed.
Taking his opportunity in the place of the injured Daryl Mitchell, Chapman slammed four boundaries in a 22-run 15th over by Nawaz, appearing - in tandem with Phillips - to give New Zealand the upper hand.
But that momentum was shortlived. Phillips (18) holed out in the face of some tight blockhole bowling, before a brilliant 19th over from Rauf saw three wickets fall - including the key scalp of Chapman (32 off 16) - at the cost of just five runs.
The Blackcaps limped through to the end of their innings, managing just 10 runs through the last two overs.
The Pakistan openers got their chase off to a promising start. Babar showed his class with some early boundaries, getting an early reprieve courtesy of that rare squandered opportunity by ace fielder Phillips.
That pain was eased when Mohammad Rizwan (4) was trapped LBW by Tim Southee just two deliveries later.
Blair Tickner struck again the next over, producing a thunderbolt that Masood tickled through to wicketkeeper Conway.
Promoted up the order, Shadab Khan signaled his intent with a crushing backfoot drive for four and quickly ensured his team were back on track and ahead of the eight ball.
Spinner Ish Sodhi was on the receiving end, with a 16-run onslaught in the eight over setting the tone for the rest of the innings.
The Blackcaps bowlers were able to slow the run rate and nab a couple of late wickets but not enough to ever genuinely endanger the Pakistan chase, as their captain ensured they cruised to the NZ total in the penultimate over.
The hosts will be back in action against Bangladesh tomorrow night at the same venue.
Blackcaps 147/8 (Conway 36, Chapman 32, Kane Williamson 31; Haris Rauf 3/28, Mohammad Wasim 2/20) lost to Pakistan 149/4 (Babar Azam 79*, Shadab Khan 34, Blair Tickner 2/42) by six wickets.
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