BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP) — Defending champions Pakistan were on the brink of elimination from the World Twenty20 after losing to New Zealand by just one run in a last-ball thriller here yesterday.

Victory for South Africa over England in the day’s other Group E Super Eights match at the Kensington Oval would mean Pakistan no longer had a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Recalled New Zealand fast bowler Ian Butler, entrusted with the last over, took an impressive three wickets for 19 runs as opener Salman Butt, who finished on 67 not out, so nearly saw Pakistan home after a top-order collapse.

Pakistan, chasing 134 to win, finished on 132-7 in reply to the 133-7 New Zealand made after losing the toss.

New Zealand found life tough against Pakistan’s spinners and Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori said: “We kept ourselves in it with a spirited bowling performance. We kept attacking and it worked for us.”

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi sportingly added: “It was a great game of cricket, we all enjoyed. Salman Butt played a mature innings.

“New Zealand’s bowlers bowled really well but so did (Pakistan spinners) (Abdur) Rehman, (Mohammad) Hafeez and (Saeed) Ajmal.”

Pakistan began the final over, bowled by Butler, needing 11 to win.

Left-hander Butt couldn’t make contact with the first ball but slashed the second down to third man for four.

He also missed the third delivery before crashing the fourth through point for another boundary.

Off the fifth ball, Pakistan ran a bye.

That meant left-armer Rehman, who’d earlier taken two wickets for just 19 runs in his first Twenty20 International for nearly three years, was on strike with two needed off the final ball.

Rehman made good contact as he swung at a legside delivery from Butler but the ball flew straight to Martin Guptill and New Zealand had won.

The Black Caps, who lost their opening Super Eights match to South Africa as Pakistan went down to England, needed victory as much as the title-holders to revive their hopes of a semi-final spot.

Pakistan collapsed to 25 for three in the face of hostile fast bowling from Shane Bond and the recalled Kyle Mills.