Afridi was named Man of the Match for his all-round performance

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Mohammad Amir had a reason to celebrate on Friday as Pakistan beat New Zealand by 16 runs in his first international game after more than five years.

Amir, who recently finished serving a five-year ban as a result of his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010, had captain Shahid Afridi and veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez to thank for the victory as the former took two wickets from his four overs, while the latter smashed a spectacular 61.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson would have been content with his decision to bowl first as Hafeez was the only Pakistan batsman to have a major impact with the bat.

Hafeez scored 61 off 47 balls, which included eight boundaries and two sixes, while Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal and Afridi all made small, but vital, contributions as Pakistan finished on 171/8 off their 20 overs.

Hafeez scored his eighth Twenty20 International fifty

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Adam Milne was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Mitchell Santner snapped up two and Trent Boult and Matt Henry chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 172 to win, New Zealand lost opening batsman Martin Guptill early on before Colin Munro steered the inning back on track with his spectacular innings of 56, which came off 27 balls and included two boundaries and six sixes.

Munro scored a valiant 56

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Following Munro’s dismissal, New Zealand began to collapse, but Williamson resisted with a valiant knock of 70, which came off 60 deliveries and included six boundaries and a six.

Williamson made a gutsy 70

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However, once Williamson was back in the pavilion, New Zealand’s hopes of winning the match were all but over as they ended up being bowled out for 155.

Wahab Riaz was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Afridi and Umar Gul took two wickets apiece and Amir and Imad Wasim claimed one wicket each.

Afridi was named Man of the Match.