The second T20I of the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand will take place at the Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.
Soon after their arrival, the national cricket team partook in a full-fledged training session amid which the players sharpened their batting, bowling, and fielding skills.
Notably, New Zealand led the five-match series 1-0 after a comfortable 46-run victory over Pakistan in the opener on Friday.
Daryl Mitchell played a blistering knock of 61 runs from 27 balls while Tim Southee returned brilliant bowling figures of 4-25 as the duo played pivotal roles in their side’s triumph.
While chasing a mammoth 227-run target, Pakistan bundled out for 180 in 18 overs despite a good start.
Saim Ayub gave Pakistan a flying start with a blistering 27-run knock from eight balls before getting run out in the third over.
His innings featured two boundaries and three sixes.
Mohammad Rizwan was the next to depart after scoring 25 off 14 as Southee got him out caught behind with 63 runs on the board.
Fakhar Zaman came in at number four but could only manage 15 runs from 10 balls before getting out off Ish Sodhi, bringing Iftikhar Ahmed to the middle with Pakistan needing 137 runs in 71 balls.
Babar Azam and Ahmed knitted a promising 40-run partnership but Southee removed the latter with a slower one to reduce Pakistan to 130-4.
Iftikhar Ahmed scored 24 runs from 17 balls with the help of one boundary and two sixes.
Adam Milne then removed Azam Khan (10) and Shaheen Afridi (0) to further dent Pakistan’s progress.
Babar Azam switched gears towards the end but could only score 57 runs from 35 balls, laced with six boundaries and two sixes before Kane Williamson caught him off Ben Sears.
Aamir Jamal scored an unbeaten 14 off 7 for Pakistan, while New Zealand bowlers cleaned up the tail to wrap the innings at 180.
Southee led the bowling charts for the home side with four wickets, while Milne and Sears picked two each.
Earlier, Shaheen Afridi invited the hosts to bat first after winning the toss in his first game as T20I captain.
Afridi gave his side a quick breakthrough with Devon Conway’s wicket, however, Finn Allen and skipper Kane Williamson raised a 49-run partnership to recover.
Allen smoked 24 runs off Shaheen Afridi’s second over, before debutant Abbas Afridi outfoxed him with a slower one, which was comfortably taken by Aamir Jamal.
Allen played an entertaining knock of 34 runs from 15 balls, laced with three boundaries and as many sixes.
Mitchell then joined Williamson and together they added 78 runs for the third wicket from 40 balls to lift the team’s total to 128 in the 12th over.
Abbas Afridi broke the partnership as he removed Williamson, courtesy of a superb catch by Fakhar Zaman at long-on.
Williamson played a 57-run innings from 42 balls with the help of nine boundaries.
Mitchell continued to attack Pakistan’s bowlers, scoring a scintillating 61 off 27, with the help of four boundaries and as many sixes before Saim Ayub caught him at deep midwicket off Shaheen.
Mark Chapman then played an entertaining knock of 26 off 11 before getting out in the final over of Haris Rauf at a total of 220.
Tim Southee launched the final ball of the innings over square leg to help his side set Pakistan 227 runs to chase.
Abbas Afridi and Shaheen Afridi picked three wickets each for Pakistan, while Haris Rauf claimed 2-34.