McCullum praise for Southee

Southee: Reasonably happy

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New Zealand's stand-in captain Brendon McCullum has hailed Tim Southee's return to form as the only real positive to come from their 49-run defeat to Pakistan in the opening Twenty20 international in Dubai.

With the Black Caps fielding a depleted line-up missing the likes of captain Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram, the right-arm swing bowler responded with figures of 3-28 from his four overs.

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 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 proclaimed himself "reasonably happy" with his performance, although understandably he was disappointed by the team's defeat - New Zealand being bowled out for 112 in response to Pakistan's 161-8.

"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.

The second and final Twenty20 international between the two teams is on Friday, with Vettori again sitting out as he continues to recover from concussion sustained when he was 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.