New Zealand beat Pakistan by 46 runs

New Zealand beat Pakistan by 46 runs in the first T20I at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.

With the win, the Kiwis took a crucial 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

After being put in to bat first, New Zealand racked up their highest score of 226 for the loss of eight wickets in T20Is against Pakistan.

Devon Conway departed for a duck, but Finn Allen threw the kitchen sink at everything to plunder 24 runs off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s second over.

Tim Southee became the first player to 150 wickets in Twenty20 internationals.

Veteran seam bowler Southee claimed four wickets to pass the milestone and help dismiss the tourists for 180 in the 18th over in response to New Zealand's imposing 226-8, handing them first blood in the five-match series.

Southee's figures of 4-25 were the best of a run-dominated encounter at Eden Park and took him to 151 wickets in T20 internationals, 11 more than Bangladesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan.

He finished the job as Pakistan's run chase capitulated after Babar Azam was the seventh wicket to fall in the 17th over, with the former captain having accelerated to 57 off 35 balls to keep his side in contention.