The Blackcaps have made short work of a daunting run chase, defeating Pakistan by five wickets in their Cricket World Cup warm-up match against Pakistan in Hyderabad.
After being asked to chase and set a target of 346, a quartet of half-centuries saw the Blackcaps reach their target in 43.4 overs, getting home with 38 balls up their sleeve.
In promising signs, Kane Williamson made 54 from 50 balls before he retired out, in his first innings back in the middle since suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament at the start of April.
Williamson played as a batter only, not taking the field at all while Tom Latham captained the side.
Even after being ruled out of the tournament opener between the Blackcaps and England, Williamson appeared to get through his innings without any issue and added a 179-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra.
Williamson hit eight boundaries in his innings, before retiring himself out after 50 deliveries to give his teammates a chance for valuable time in the middle.
Opening the batting in place of Will Young, Ravindra also showed selectors his worth, scoring an innings high 97 runs from 72 balls, with 16 fours ad a six before he was clean bowled by the left-arm spin of Agha Salman.
Daryl Mitchell also added a half-century, with 59 from 57 balls before he retired out, while Mark Chapman iced the run chase - finishing the game with an unbeaten 65 runs from just 41 deliveries and added a 110 run stand with Jimmy Neesham (33 off 21).
With the ball, the Blackcaps bowlers were made to work for any rewards ahead of a World Cup expected to play into batters' hands.
Pakistan's total was built on innings of 103 retired from Mohammad Rizwan, 80 from captain Babar Azam and 75 from Saud Shakeel.
Mitchell Santner (2/39) and Matt Henry (1/8) were the only Kiwi bowlers to concede less than six runs per over, while Neesham (1/59) and Lockie Ferguson (1/34) also picked up wickets.
But in clear signs of the match's warm-up status, Glenn Phillips' part-time off-spin was used to open the bowling while Trent Boult was unused with ball in hand.
The Blackcaps have one more warm-up match, against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (NZ time), before opening the World Cup against England in Ahmedabad on October 5.
Pakistan 345/5 (Rizwan 103, Babar 80, Shakeel 75; Santner 2/39)
New Zealand 346/5 (Ravindra, Chapman 65 not out, Mitchell 59, Williamson 54; Usama Mir 2/68)
New Zealand win by five wickets.
