Mohammad Amir returns as Pakistan beat New Zealand in T20

Mohammad Amir took a wicket on his return to international cricket as Pakistan claimed a 16-run win over New Zealand in their opening Twenty20 in Auckland.

Amir saw two decent chances dropped off his bowling before snapping up the wicket of Matt Henry for 10 as Pakistan closed on victory at Eden Park, marking his first wicket for Pakistan since the fourth Test against England in 2010.

The left-armer was banned soon after that series and spent five years out of the game, as well as three months in jail, after being found guilty of spot-fixing during the tour of England along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.

Pakistan were put in by New Zealand and scored quickly in the first four overs before losing Ahmed Shehzad for 16, the first of four wickets for Adam Milne.

Mohammad Hafeez scored all 19 runs in a partnership with Sohaib Maqsood, who was stumped by Luke Ronchi off the bowling of Mitchell Santner for a second-ball duck.

Santner struck again to dismiss Shoaib Malik (20) and Milne returned to end Hafeez's innings on 61, the opener having hit eight fours and two sixes in a vital 47-ball knock.

Pakistan got handy contributions from Umar Akmal (24), who was allowed to play after a suspension was put on hold, and Shahid Afridi (23), as they made it to 171-8 by the end of their innings, Milne returning New Zealand's best figures of 4-37.

Martin Guptill was run out for two as the home side's reply started badly, but they appeared to be well in control as Kane Williamson, dropped off Amir on three, and Colin Munro built a second-wicket stand that took them all the way to 89-1 before a collapse.

Munro's dismissal on 56, an explosive knock that took only 27 balls and included six sixes, was the first of five wickets to fall for the loss of only 19 runs in the vital middle overs.

Wahab Riaz claimed Munro's wicket and returned later to secure the even more important scalp of Williamson (70), who continued to hold the innings together until the start of the final over when New Zealand needed 20 to win.

Williamson fell with the score on 152, the same total when Amir (1-31) made his sole contribution to the wickets column, although by then he had suffered a second drop off his bowling when Maqsood put down Todd Astle.

With the game already won, Riaz ensured Pakistan bowled out the home side with the final ball of the innings, improving his figures to 3-34 by dismissing No 11 batsman Trent Boult for a duck.