Wellington: New Zealand on Monday emerged victorious in the 1st ODI against Pakistan by 70 runs in Wellington.


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Batting first, the visitors scored 280 for 8 after a inspired spell of bowling from Mohammad Amir who took 3 for 28.


Henry Nicholls top scored for the Black Caps with 82.


In response, Azhar Ali's side was bowled out for 210 with four overs to spare.


Left-arm pacer Trent Boult bagged a four-wicket haul for the Kiwis, while Babar Azam made 62 for Pakistan.


Matt Henry and Mitchell McClenaghan then added 73 off 33 balls in a closing onslaught to ensure a target which eventually proved too much for Pakistan. 


After Azhar Ali (19) and Ahmed Shehzad (13) fell early, Mohammad Hafeez and Babar Azam lifted Pakistan`s confidence. They cruised past the 100 mark in the 23rd over, the same as New Zealand, but with only two wickets down.


However, the brittle nature of the Pakistan batting was highlighted as Kane Williamson broke their stand when he had Hafeez caught at long on for 42. 


Sarfraz Ahmed (30) and Anwar Ali (16) put on 35 for the seventh wicket but their partnership ended when they tried to lift the scoring and Ahmed was well caught by Anderson on the boundary. 


Where the New Zealand tail had exploded, Pakistan`s fizzled out -- with the last four wickets falling for five runs. 


Trent Boult finished with four for 40 while Grant Elliott, who removed openers Ali and Shehzad as well as Sohaib Maqsood, took three for 43. 


After being sent into bat on a windy Wellington day, New Zealand never really settled against a hostile Pakistan attack.


Openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham were both out for 11, with Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Amir taking a wicket each. 


Amir in his second spell removed Anderson (10) and Luke Ronchi (5) in the space of three balls.


Anwar Ali also took a double in quick succession when he broke a 45-run stand for the third wicket by Kane Williamson and Nicholls.


He bowled Williamson for 10 and two balls later bowled Elliott without scoring, before returning later to claim the prized scalp of Nicholls.


(With Agency inputs)