Tim Southee lone bright spot for NZ
Tim Southee's return to form was one of the few positives to come out of NZ's loss to Pakistan in the T20 international in Dubai.
Southee finished with figures of three for 28 from his four overs to be the Black Caps' best bowler in a depleted line-up missing captain Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram.
The 20-year-old has battled back from a form slump that kept him out of the tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy and his efforts on Thursday earned him the praise of stand-in skipper Brendon McCullum.
"He desperately wants to be a regular member of this team and the way he's come back - I thought he bowled brilliantly in the one-dayers as well - and again tonight he was fantastic,"
McCullum told Radio Sport. "It's a real plus to have a guy like him in your squad."
Southee described himself as "reasonably happy" with the way he bowled, although understandably he was disappointed by the team's loss after they were bowled out for 112, chasing Pakistan's 161 for eight.
"We may have leaked a few too many runs. We got off to a flyer (with the bat) but lost wickets too quickly and it came back to bite us," he added.
A half-century from opener Imran Nazir (58) had put Pakistan in a strong position.
And although New Zealand's chase got off to a reasonable start at 25 for one, the loss of McCullum, Ross Taylor and Scott Styris in quick succession left the Black Caps facing an uphill battle.
The second and final Twenty20 international between the two teams is on Friday.
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Vettori will sit out the match as he continues to recover from concussion which he sustained when hit by a bouncer during the second one-day international.
A scan has cleared him of any serious injury but he will continue to be monitored.
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