Pakistan win tri-series against New Zealand despite Williamson fifty
Chasing 164 against the runners-up of last year's World Cup, Pakistan's middle order came good to secure victory with three balls to spare and clinch the tri-series which also included Bangladesh.
Put into bat, New Zealand lost both their openers in the first six powerplay overs though they continued to score at a healthy rate.
Skipper Kane Williamson top scored for them with a crafty 59 while Glenn Phillips (29) and Mark Chapman (25) chipped in with cameos to lay the foundation for a big total.
Pakistan, however, bowled brilliantly in the back end of the New Zealand innings, conceding only 33 runs in the last five overs to restrict the hosts to a modest total.
The tourists lost skipper Babar Azam (15) in the powerplay but Mohammad Rizwan, currently the top-ranked T20 batter, made 34 to keep them on course.
Pakistan went into the tri-series with questions around their middle order but Haider Ali blasted 31 and Mohammad Nawaz (38) and Iftikhar Ahmed (25) produced unbeaten cameos to ease those concerns and seal a comfortable victory.
"The way the middle order played was outstanding," Babar said after the win.
"Haider and Nawaz are outstanding, we needed to step up and perform."
New Zealand counterpart Williamson said they tried their best to defend a "competitive" total but Pakistan's middle order made the difference.
"Credit for the way Pakistan middle order came out and changed momentum, because it wasn't easy for guys coming in to try and get the rhythm of the surface," Williamson said.
In Canberra, rain ruined England's bid for a 3-0 series sweep against Australia as the final Twenty20 International was washed out.
England's Jos Buttler made an unbeaten 65 as they posted 112-2 after two rain interruptions had reduced the match to a 12-overs-a-side contest.
It was Buttler's second fifty in three innings since the England skipper's return from a calf injury.
When they returned to defend their total, Chris Woakes' triple strike had reduced Australia to 30-3 before the match was abandoned.
While Australia escaped a series whitewash, the world champions will continue to fret over the slump in form of captain Aaron Finch and power-hitter Glenn Maxwell.
Finch, who became the first Australia batsman to play 100 T20 Internationals, fell for a first ball duck while Maxwell managed eight.