<p>New Zealand captain Tom Latham offered no excuses as a career-best performance from Haris Rauf ensured Pakistan handed the Black Caps an 88-run hammering in the first Twenty20 international in Lahore on Friday.</p>.<p>Pakistan hit 182 runs and Latham's side fell well short of their target despite a hat trick from Matt Henry, with Rauf claiming four wickets for 18 runs to leave New Zealand on 94 all out with more than four overs remaining.</p>.<p>"Our preparation was not ideal but we will not use that as an excuse," said Latham.</p>.<p>"We did not quite adapt to the conditions early enough. We did well up top and in patches with the ball.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/mulling-possibility-of-holding-next-wpl-in-diwali-window-jay-shah-1206624.html" target="_blank">Mulling possibility of holding next WPL in Diwali window: Jay Shah</a></strong></p>.<p>"On that surface, the (Pakistan) score was slightly above-par. We did not build partnerships with the bat and once the rate went up, we had no choice but to go hard."</p>.<p>Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub both hit 47 in a 79-run stand to allow Pakistan to establish control before Henry claimed the wickets of Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi across two overs to secure his hat trick.</p>.<p>But it was the bowling display of Rauf that swung the game in Pakistan's favour, the 29-year-old recording his best-ever figures in a T20 international.</p>.<p>"It was a team effort," said Pakistan captain Babar Azam. "Two wickets fell early but then Fakhar and Saim built the innings.</p>.<p>"The pitch was assisting the bowlers so it was a good batting performance (to get that score).</p>.<p>"We had a complete bowling unit and the way Shaheen (Shah Afridi) and Zaman (Khan) started, Haris bowled and the way our spinners bowled was excellent."</p>
<p>New Zealand captain Tom Latham offered no excuses as a career-best performance from Haris Rauf ensured Pakistan handed the Black Caps an 88-run hammering in the first Twenty20 international in Lahore on Friday.</p>.<p>Pakistan hit 182 runs and Latham's side fell well short of their target despite a hat trick from Matt Henry, with Rauf claiming four wickets for 18 runs to leave New Zealand on 94 all out with more than four overs remaining.</p>.<p>"Our preparation was not ideal but we will not use that as an excuse," said Latham.</p>.<p>"We did not quite adapt to the conditions early enough. We did well up top and in patches with the ball.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/mulling-possibility-of-holding-next-wpl-in-diwali-window-jay-shah-1206624.html" target="_blank">Mulling possibility of holding next WPL in Diwali window: Jay Shah</a></strong></p>.<p>"On that surface, the (Pakistan) score was slightly above-par. We did not build partnerships with the bat and once the rate went up, we had no choice but to go hard."</p>.<p>Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub both hit 47 in a 79-run stand to allow Pakistan to establish control before Henry claimed the wickets of Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi across two overs to secure his hat trick.</p>.<p>But it was the bowling display of Rauf that swung the game in Pakistan's favour, the 29-year-old recording his best-ever figures in a T20 international.</p>.<p>"It was a team effort," said Pakistan captain Babar Azam. "Two wickets fell early but then Fakhar and Saim built the innings.</p>.<p>"The pitch was assisting the bowlers so it was a good batting performance (to get that score).</p>.<p>"We had a complete bowling unit and the way Shaheen (Shah Afridi) and Zaman (Khan) started, Haris bowled and the way our spinners bowled was excellent."</p>