Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson believes there are "small margins" between his side and the world's best, after their six-wicket loss to Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday (NZ time).
The win for Pakistan means Sarfraz Ahmed's side completed a remarkable 11th straight T20 series victory at 2-0 with one to play on Monday.
But they have been pushed to the limit in both games against New Zealand. The Blackcaps lost the first T20 by just two runs on Thursday and they just fell short again in the second, as Mohammad Hafeez hit the winning runs for Pakistan with two balls to spare.
Even though they have lost eight of their last nine T20s, Williamson can see his side improving.
"It's important to take little lessons from the way they're playing their cricket and we're not far away," he said.
"It is about making those small steps of improvement, like coming in and out of our overs a little better, or being more clinical with the bat in certain areas.
"They are small margins, so it's important we look at the positive and we build on them.
"Pakistan are very clinical over here in these conditions and they've been consistent. They're setting the benchmark and we need to make those small steps."
The Blackcaps won the toss and elected to bat first. Colin Munro blasted a quick-fire 44, while Corey Anderson finished 44 not out, as New Zealand finished 153/7.
That looked like a defendable total, when Pakistan needed 40 runs off the final four overs, but Hafeez hit two sixes off Ish Sodhi's final over to put the hosts in the box seat.
Hafeez then hit the winning runs in the final over to secure the win and the series.
After the T20 series, the Blackcaps face Pakistan in three ODIs and three tests, before returning to New Zealand for a series against Sri Lanka.
Newshub.