Offspinner Saeed Ajmal took 4-30 as Pakistan survived a late New Zealand charge to register a 13-run victory in a World Twenty20 Group D match on Sunday.
Nasir Jamshed smashed two fours and four sixes in a career-best 56 off 35 balls and led Pakistan to 6-177 against some inconsistent New Zealand fielding.
New Zealand captain Ross Taylor staged a gallant comeback in the 19th over and hit paceman Umar Gul for three successive boundaries before he was run out as the Kiwis reached 9-164. Ajmal took two wickets in the last over.
New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by 59 runs in the first group match.
The Pakistanis play Bangladesh on Tuesday with the top two teams qualifying for the Super Eights.