Finn Allen has fired New Zealand to a mighty T20 win over Pakistan, belting 62 off 42 as the Black Caps eased to a nine-wicket victory at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.
Set 131 after an underwhelming Pakistan innings, Allen smashed six sixes as he and opening partner Devon Conway (49no off 46) fired New Zealand home in 16.1 overs.
Allen's dynamite knock was well paired with Conway's smart strokeplay, leaving coach Gary Stead with a tough call for the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The 23-year-old Allen is currently in the side ahead of big-hitting legend Martin Guptill, the third-highest international T20 runscorer of all time.
The pair will both be in Australia with Allen competing in his first tournament while this will be a record seventh T20 World Cup for Guptill.
Captain Kane Williamson saluted Allen's effort after a "nice and clinical" bowling performance.
"He has been hitting the ball well and some of these wickets haven't been the easiest for rhythm," he said.
"He broke the back of the chase by being super aggressive with Devon complimenting him nicely, it went a long way to us getting over the line."
While it was Allen's day with the bat, the victory was built off a disciplined effort with the ball.
Kiwi spin ripped through the Pakistan top-order, with Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner - fresh from becoming a first-time dad last week - sharing the top four wickets.
Bracewell dismissed openers Mohammad Rizwan (16) - named the ICC's male player of the month for his stunning T20 form - and Babar Azam (21) on his way to a superb 2-11.
His miserly return earned a second-straight player-of-the-match award after 2-14 against Bangladesh on Sunday.
Santner (2-27) went for 17 off his first 10 balls before recovering to remove Shan Masood (14) and Shadab Khan (8), tempting both to slog into the hands of fielders near the rope.
When Haider Ali (8) holed out off Ish Sodhi, spinners had the top five wickets for the first time in a T20 international in New Zealand.
Paceman Tim Southee (2-31) joined the party with two wickets in the last over, with Mohammad Wasim denying him a hat-trick by blocking a pacy yorker.
Finishing with 7-130, Pakistan's misery showed up in one statistic - their innings was the first in 77 international T20 matches in New Zealand without a six.
Allen fired his first off the 12th ball of the innings - a straight drive off Shahnawaz Dahani - and didn't look back.
Shadab (1-26) was the best of the Pakistan attack, with Rizwan stumping Allen off his bowling with the match already lost.
Allen's departure allowed Williamson a short stint at the crease, hitting the winning run to leave Conway stranded on 49.
The Black Caps return to action on Wednesday in another World Cup warm-up at the same venue against Bangladesh.
