New Zealand's summer of cricket anguish got just a little more frustrating with today's six-wicket loss to Pakistan in the opening game of the National Bank series at Eden Park.

No-one has doubted that the loss of a key player like Chris Cairns, and the absence of top bowlers like Geoff Allott and Shayne O'Connor, has left the side vulnerable, while the developing all-rounder Scott Styris is another gritty player who could add value to the side in tough times.

But the new boys on the block were given a decent dose of reality when the Pakistani pace performers hit town today.

Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram have performed often enough here in the past for players to have some expectation of their skills, but the first visits by Shoaib Akhtar and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq have created new demands of the Kiwis, and it is going to take a big effort to turn around yesterday's defeat.

New Zealand were all out for 149, courtesy of a five-wicket blitz in 11 balls by Akhtar.

When he came back for a second spell there was hope that New Zealand, with half their batting left, might have a chance of reaching 200.

In a matter of minutes that hope was extinguished by a virtuoso display of bowling, even if he was not yet at full pace.

There was controversy attached to it, as Akhtar looked to bowl differently around the wicket to the left-handers than to the right-handers.

But there was no way out for New Zealand. They had already botched their batting effort by losing Adam Parore, Nathan Astle and Roger Twose by the time the score was 26.

Stephen Fleming and Craig McMillan battled their way through to a 62-run partnership, then both departed within two overs - Fleming chopping Saqlain's 'other' ball onto his stumps while McMillan was run out attempting a second run that was never on.

Jacob Oram and Lou Vincent then added 54 for the sixth wicket before each departing courtesy of Shoaib at the start of his rout.

As Fleming said after: "We get ourselves to the advantage line, get ourselves out of trouble, but then don't push on.

"We are very clear about what we have to do. But it tends to be the 50-50 times when we get out," he said.

New Zealand made a fine effort to defend its total during the first 30 overs, based largely around the tight bowling of left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori and the fielding support for all bowlers.

Bowling as well as he has in the limited overs games he has played since his return from injury,Vettori kept the clamps on the visitors with clever variation in flight and pace while also gaining some turn. His 10 overs, which ended with the 30th over, cost 21 runs for his two wickets.

"You had the feeling the game was in our favour when he was bowling," Fleming said lamenting the fact he couldn't bowl him for another 10 overs.

James Franklin, the young left-arm medium fast bowler also bowled one of his best spells.

But realistically, the target was too few, as it has been for the side for much of the summer.

Pakistan captain Moin Khan was pleased with the win which backed up the work the side did during their camp in Pakistan before coming on tour.

While his side took a long time to score the 150 necessary for victory, his advice to his batsmen had been to have a good long bat.

The challenge for the New Zealanders will be to see how players go about recovering from the Shoaib assault.

And because of yesterday's rain and the need to use the reserve day today, there is only one day in which to prepare for Tuesday's game in Napier.

© CricInfo