Cricket: Finn Allen presses his claim to become Blackcaps' main man with Twenty20 World Cup on the horizon

Blackcaps opener Finn Allen has staked his claim to take the role full time, after a ballistic innings gave New Zealand a nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in Christchurch on Tuesday.

Chasing 131 at Hagley Oval, 23-year-old Allen hammered a 31-ball half-century on his way to 62 runs from 42 balls - with 36 of his runs coming from sixes alone.

And partnering Devon Conway at the top of the Blackcaps' order, Allen appears to have edged in front of Martin Guptill - possibly New Zealand's greatest white ball batter - in plans for this month's Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

The innings comes off the back of an impressive winter tour for Allen, who made his highest international scores in ODIs, 96 against the West Indies in Bridgetown, and T20s, 101 against Scotland in Edinburgh.

But for teammate Michael Bracewell, who shares a dressing room with Allen for club and country, Allen's efforts on Tuesday only back up the multiple displays he's put in for Wellington Firebirds in recent seasons.

"I've seen him do that on numerous occasions, domestically," Bracewell said. "To do it against a world class bowling attack is the next progression for him.

"He's certainly doing it more and more consistently now. I was talking to Ish [Sodhi] while he was out there. 

"The way that he goes and rolls out the way he's played for the Firebirds, internationally, is very impressive.

"It's something we can all take inspiration from - knowing the way we play domestically is good enough at this international level.

"Seeing him take on the bowlers and the fielders and the bowlers is pretty impressive. He certainly gives the ball a good whack.

"It was awesome to see him do so well."

Allen's onslaughts don't just help the Blackcaps' batters either.

With the New Zealand bowling attack having to take turns in coming up against him - and the Blackcaps' other power hitters - in the nets, the benefits will show out on the field, Bracewell explained.

"If you can restrict him to a single, or even a dot ball if you're lucky, in the nets, you're putting yourself in a good position to bowl to some of these guys we come up against.

"He's certainly someone that I line up [against] in the nets quite a lot to really test myself.

"You could say that about a number of our batsmen in our team as well. There's certainly a lot of power in our side.

"It's something that gets us all better as a bowling unit, bowling to our batters in the nets."

Allen and the Blackcaps have another chance to show their wares in the T20 tri-series against Pakistan, which continues in Christchurch on Wednesday afternoon.