Finn Allen and Devon Conway led New Zealand to a thumping win over Pakistan in the Twenty20 tri-series match in Christchurch on Tuesday, after the hosts chased the small target of 130 in the 17th of the game over with nine wickets in hand at a slow touch wicket.

Allen scored 62 runs off 42 balls and formed a 117 runs partnership with Devon Conway, 49.

“The wicket was a touch slow in the first innings and the batting was not up to the mark,” Pakistani skipper Babar Azam said. “We will try to rectify our mistakes. One-sixty would have been a good total.”

The winning skipper, Kane Williamson, said that it was a much improved performance from their side compared to the last time they faced Pakistan.

“You need to be disciplined on such wickets and that is what our bowlers did. I am looking forward to the next game,” he said.

Michael Bracewell took the key wickets of prolific opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan (16) and captain Babar Azam (21) in fine figures of two for 11 from his four overs.

Tim Southee took two wickets in two balls at the end of the innings at Hagley Oval as New Zealand tried to avenge their defeat to Pakistan at the same venue on Saturday.

Both teams, plus Bangladesh, are using the week-long tournament to fine-tune for the T20 World Cup in Australia this month.

Iftikhar Ahmed top scored with 27, including three fours.

Southee removed Iftikhar and Mohammad Nawaz with the first two deliveries of final over but Mohammad Wasim survived the hat-trick ball.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Azam won the toss and chose to bat.

Pakistan made just one change from the side that beat the Black Caps by six wickets at the same Hagley Oval venue on Saturday with teenage fast-bowler Naseem Shah coming in for Harris Rauf.

A win for Pakistan will put them in Friday’s final of the week-long tournament, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia which begins on Sunday.

New Zealand made two changes from the team which beat Bangladesh by eight wickets on Sunday with bowlers Adam Milne and Trent Boult replaced by Mitchell Santner and Blair Tickner.

“The pitch looks good, so we want to get a few runs on the board and put pressure on them,” said Pakistan skipper Azam, whose team are chasing a third straight win.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson hoped the Christchurch pitch would hold up for the hosts when they bat second.

“It probably won’t change too much, but we have seen the surface deteriorate a little bit in the last few games, so we will adjust with the ball, first up,” he said.

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (capt), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Blair Tickner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Mitchell Santner

Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani

Umpires: Alex Wharf (ENG), Wayne Knights (NZL)

TV Umpire: Shaun Haig (NZL)

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)