Half-centuries from Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson and some aggressive late hitting from Corey Anderson earned New Zealand a three-wicket win and series victory in the third one-day international against Pakistan in Auckland.
New Zealand won the series 2-0 after a 70-run victory in Wellington and the wash-out of match two in Napier.
Guptill and Williamson also claimed the second-highest ODI partnership for New Zeland with 159 runs as they won with two balls to spare in a rain-effected match which saw their overs reduced under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Pakistan had scored a disappointing 290, well short of a par score, thanks mainly to 83 from Babar Azam.
Mohammad Hafeez and Azam set about repairing the damage and the tourists were on 154 when they lost their third wicket.
Hafeez was out for 76 and Shoab Malik 32 before Azam perished on 83 when he cut Matt Henry straight to Guptill at point, to leave Pakistan on 227 for five.
Congrats NZ catches & mental toughness win matches. Self belief & an attacking mindset puts pressure on the other side. #PakvsNZ
— Azhar Mahmood (@AzharMahmood11) January 22, 2016Sarfraz was the last man out for 41 with the Pakistan total on 290.
Adam Milne claimed three wickets, with Guptill and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi taking four catches each.
Pakistan’s attack featured four left-arm pace bowlers and they made an early breakthrough when captain Brendon McCullum was out for a duck.
McCullum hooked Mohammad Amir into the hands of Mohammad Irfan who ran to his left from long leg to take the catch, leaving the home side on six for one.
Guptill and Williamson defied steady but light rain to take their partnership to 159, the second highest ODI partnership for New Zealand, when Pakistan struck again.
Guptill carved Azhar Ali to Hafeez at point, a thick edge ending his innings on 82.
Williamson fell for 84 with the total on 180 when part-time leg-spinner Azhar struck a second blow thanks to a stumping from Sarfraz.
Further wickets left the Kiwis 210 for five, still 81 runs short of their target with under 15 overs remaining when heavier rain forced the players off.
When play resumed New Zealand’s overs had been reduced to 43 with their revised target now 263 under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Anderson was out for 35 off 29 balls and it left the home side needing seven to win off nine balls.
Needing six off the last over Mitchell Santner hit the first ball for four but failed to score off the next two before chipping the fourth ball over the field for a boundary.
Santner had contributed 10 valuable runs from a New Zealand total of 265 for seven.
