Ross Taylor hit a fighting century to help New Zealand score a challenging 246-7 in the first of five day-night internationals against Pakistan in Dubai on Monday.
The 30-year-old scored a 135-ball 105 not out for his 11th one-day hundred after New Zealand, put into bat, were derailed by some pace bowling by Mohammad Irfan who finished with 3-57.
Taylor added 58 for the seventh wicket with Daniel Vettori (27) in the final overs after steadying the innings during a 44-run sixth wicket stand with Luke Ronchi, who made 23.
Irfan had dismissed opener Dean Brownlie (14) and skipper Kane Williamson (10) in his first five-over spell before returning to take Ronchi’s wicket in the 38th over.
Tom Latham was run out for 13 and Jimmy Neesham was lbw to Shahid Afridi for one as New Zealand were left struggling at 111-5.
Paceman Wahab Riaz claimed the wickets of opener Anton Devcich (26) and Vettori to finish with 2-51.
But Taylor kept one end intact, reaching his 27th one-day fifty with a single and kept New Zealand in the hunt for a respectable total.
He hit Umar Gul for a six and a four and then took a sharp single to complete his hundred off 133 balls with eight fours and a six.
He hit another boundary off Riaz on the final delivery as New Zealand collected 41 in the last five overs.
Pakistan included all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez as a batsman alone after he was suspended over an illegal bowling action but left out hard-hitting Umar Akmal.
That left Pakistan with four genuine bowlers but part-timer Haris Sohail chipped in with ten overs for 39 runs.
New Zealand were forced to sit out opener Martin Guptil and all-rounder Corey Anderson due to injuries. -AFP
