New Zealand's Tim Southee celebrates with the teammates after taking a wicket against Pakistan during the first Twenty20 match in Wellington on Monday. — Internet WELLINGTON, Jan 22 (AFP): Colin Munro ensured New Zealand continued a stellar home summer on Monday when they thrashed Pakistan by seven wickets with 25 balls to spare in the opening Twenty20 match in Wellington.
Munro was left unbeaten on 49, when a wide by Hasan Ali in the 16th over allowed New Zealand to pass their 105-run target.
It kept New Zealand undefeated after 13 matches across all three formats in the past two months including five one-dayers against Pakistan and a series of Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s against the West Indies.
Munro and Tom Bruce (26) set up the New Zealand victory with a 49-run stand for the third wicket after the hosts wobbled at the start of their modest run chase.
Martin Guptill only made two and Glenn Phillips was bowled for three as New Zealand crawled to 14 for two after four overs.
After a cautious start to their partnership, Munro and Bruce took 11 runs off the ninth over and 12 off the tenth to reduce the target to under-six runs in an over and they coasted from there.
Following Bruce's dismissal, Ross Taylor partnered Munro through to the end with a rapid 22 off 13 deliveries.
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