Pakistan clinches two-run thriller over New Zealand

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Pakistan registered a thrilling two-run win over New Zealand to make a winning start to their three-match Twenty20 series at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Wednesday.

With 17 runs required off the last over, Ross Taylor (42 not out) and Tim Southee (5 not out) could only manage to amass 14 from left-arm seamer Shaheen Afridi as Pakistan clinched the humdinger from a down-to-the-wire situation.

Pakistan's batsman Sahibzada Farhan plays a shot during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia at the International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, UAE, October 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

The Black Caps, returning to international cricket after an unusually long gap of seven months, ended their innings at 146-6 and fell agonizingly short of their winning target of 149.

Earlier, Mohammad Hafeez (45) and captain Sarfraz Ahmed (34) helped Pakistan score 148-6 after electing to bat first.

Australian cricketer Andrew Tye catches the ball and dismisses Pakistan cricketer Sahibzada Farhan during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, October 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

For the Kiwis, opener Colin Munro top scored with 58 off 42 balls but once he departed the visitors lost their momentum as Pakistan slow bowlers troubled the other New Zealand batsmen in the middle overs.

The two teams now move on to the International Cricket Stadium in Dubai for the second match in the series on Friday (November 2).