NEW Zealand overcame an unlikely last-wicket century stand to defeat Pakistan by seven runs in the final one-day international in Abu Dhabi and clinch the three-match series 2-1.

New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum slammed 76 at the top of the order, while Ross Taylor contributed a useful 44 to a modest total of 211.

Salman Butt and Khalid Latif gave Pakistan’s reply a solid start before a collapse to 101 for nine – only for Mohammad Aamer (73) and Saeed Ajmal – who had earlier taken four for 33 – put on 103 to carry their team to the brink of victory.

Pakistan’s reply began with Latif dropped by McCullum off Kyle Mills on nought but Daniel Vettori, who had brought himself on in the ninth over, trapped the opener lbw.

Butt was then run-out responding to a suicidal call from Younus Khan, and the Pakistan captain himself departed immediately afterwards – edging Shane Bond to Taylor at slip.

Pakistan then crashed from 47 for no loss to 86 for eight.

Shoaib Malik fell attempting to pull Mills, picking out Scott Styris at deep square-leg; Umar Akmal was caught behind off Tim Southee and Shahid Afridi departed in similar fashion.

Kamran Akmal was Southee’s second victim – and when Abdul Razzaq was run-out, Pakistan had lost their last recognised batsman with 126 still required for victory.

Umar Gul and Aamer then defied New Zealand’s bowlers with a partnership that lasted a little more than 10 overs and contributed only 15 runs. But it was the last-wicket stand between Aamer and Ajmal which unexpectedly raised Pakistan’s hopes and had the Kiwis sweating.

Aamer, who hit Vettori for three sixes in an over, clubbed the bowlers around and raised his half-century with a mistimed boundary off Mills. The 10th-wicket stand lasted 16 overs – only for Oram to claim Ajmal as Pakistan fell just short. (Eurosport)

NEW ZEALAND innings
BB McCullum c & b Malik 76
AJ Redmond c Aamer b Gul 21
MJ Guptill c Younis Khan b Ajmal 8
LRPL Taylor lbw b Ajmal 44
SB Styris run-out 14
DL Vettori lbw b Ajmal 15
NT Broom lbw b Afridi 0
JDP Oram lbw b Ajmal 2
KD Mills c Ajmal b Aamer 4
SE Bond not out 11
TG Southee c Razzaq b Aamer 4
Extras: (lb-6, w-6) 12
Total: (all out; 46.3 overs) 211
Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-88 , 3-138 , 4-164, 5-187, 6-188 , 7-190, , 8-194 , 9-198.
Bowling: Mohammed Aamer 8.3-0-41-2, Umar Gul 8-1-47-1 (w-2), Abdul Razzaq 3-0-19-0,
Saeed Ajmal 10-0-33-4, Shaid Afridi 10-0-33-1 (w-3), Shoaib Malik 7-0-32-1 (w-1)

PAKISTAN innings
Salman Butt run-out 25
Khalid Latif lbw b Vettori 19
Younis Khan* c Taylor b Bond 3
Shoaib Malik c Styris b Mills 11
Umar Akmal c McCullum b Southee 12
Shahid Afridi c McCullum b Oram 5
Kamran Akmal† c Vettori b Southee 4
Abdul Razzaq run-out 0
Umar Gul c Redmond b Oram 6
Mohammad Aamer not out 73
Saeed Ajmal c Mills b Oram 33
Extras: (b-4, lb-4, w-4, nb-1) 13
Total: (all out; 49.1 overs) 204
Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-51, 3-51, 4-74, 5-82, 6 -84, 7-86 ,8-86, 9-101.
Bowling: Mills 10-1-62-1 (w-1), Bond 10-1-46-1 (w-2), Vettori 10-2-42-1, Southee 10-0-26-2, Oram 9.1-2-20-3 (nb-1, 1w-1).