PAK VS NZ - 1st T20I, Pakistan v New Zealand in UAE, 2018

Pakistan have successfully defended four scores in the 145-155 bracket in a little over a week. It got really close today though, before their spinners bailed them out. But New Zealand might still have their say as this series goes along, as their batting inspires a lot more confidence than what Australia did. That's all for now. This is Sagar Chawla signing off on behalf of Kumar Abhisekh Das, Sriram and our scorer Mukesh.

Sarfraz, Pakistan captain: Credit to the bowlers. Conditions were tough. There was a collapse in our batting. But we knew if we got 150, our bowlers can defend it. Hafeez in good form, even I scored a few which helped the team. NZ is a tough team. They scored 50 in the powerplay but we knew we could pull it back. There was dew today. We'll have to to see how it factors in the coming games..

Williamson, NZ captain: Could look at heaps of different parts of the game when you lose. There are lot of positives to take out. Good game of cricket, Pakistan deserved to win but we need to learn and move on. It's the nature of the surfaces here. Seen it for the last month or so. Was nice to get off to a good start. Colin played beautifully, got a few away. As you get into the middle phases, spin can be challenging. Sometimes have to suck up those dot balls and capitalize in other overs. It's about being smart about it. Fantastic fielding effort, lot of good athletes in our side, was good to put on a display. That's the idea - to be competitive. Today we weren't far away. It's important to build on it as we move into the next game.

Hafeez, MoM: Happy with the win. Lots of complications when you modify the bowling action. Trying my level best, whatever the situation, to gain momentum for the team. Momentum is very important in this format. Felt we were 10-15 runs short but the way we restricted them was brilliant.

23:14 Local Time, 19:14 GMT, 00:44 IST: Pakistan have done just enough to emerge victorious. Their spinners were efficient after Munro caused a bit of turbulence in the powerplay. From overs six to 10, Hafeez and Shadab pulled things back and squeezed up the pressure, conceding just 16 runs after NZ had scored 50 in the first six. That turned things around for them as wickets came by soon after. Needing 58 off the last six overs, Corey Anderson and Ross Taylor - who were new to the crease at that time - struggled to tee off on a pitch that was slowing down all the time. That was coupled with some pretty effective death bowling. Still, Pakistan would know this got very close and a couple of hits could've changed it. They would've figured that New Zealand's batting poses a much stronger challenge than what Australia did and this series may not be as straightforward. Back with the presentations..

Shaheen Afridi to Ross Taylor, FOUR, it's far from a perfect ball from Afridi as he dishes out a full toss, but Taylor can't get a clean strike on it either. He thumps it over mid-off, only for a four though. It was well short of the boundary. Pakistan clinch the match by two runs

Shaheen Afridi to Ross Taylor, 2 runs, low full toss, Taylor drags it wide of long-on but it'll only be two. New Zealand need a six off the final ball to take this into a Super Over

Nine needed off 2. Two boundaries basically

Shaheen Afridi to Ross Taylor, 2 runs, into the blockhole, top bowling. Taylor flicks it away through midwicket, all he'll get is two

Shaheen Afridi to Southee, 1 run, reckon Afridi may have got away with this. High full toss outside off, carved down to third man. New Zealand a bit perplexed it wasn't signalled as a no-ball, seemed to be above the waist

Shaheen Afridi to Southee, FOUR, full ball on off, Southee is deep in the crease to flick it wide of long leg. He may have just found the boundary there. Despite his best efforts at flicking it inside, the fielder wasn't able to prevent the ball from sliding back into the ropes with him

Shaheen Afridi to Ross Taylor, 1 run, very full outside off, doesn't allow Taylor to get under it. Driven to mid-off

Tim Southee, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Hasan Ali to Seifert, out Bowled!! The sparks go off in the backdrop as Hasan explodes in his BOOM celebration. That was well coordinated. A cracking full ball, sears in around off stump. Seifert has to go for it, gives it a swing but only succeeds in sending an inside edge crashing into the stumps. Seifert b Hasan Ali 0(1)

Hasan Ali to Seifert, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Hasan Ali to Ross Taylor, 1 run, sharp low full toss, almost as good as a yorker. Taylor botches it off the toe-end to mid-off

Hasan Ali to Ross Taylor, 2 runs, full ball at off stump, another mistimed slog through midwicket. Just not getting hold of these

Hasan Ali to Ross Taylor, 2 runs, slower ball outside off, drags the slog wide of deep midwicket

Hasan Ali to Ross Taylor, FOUR, short ball that loops over Sarfraz off the top-edge. Taylor was definitely hurried there, but he just gets some bat on it. Also, fine leg was up

Tim Seifert, right handed bat, comes to the crease