In reply, New Zealand were all out for just 149, handing Pakistan a massive 138-run victory. Aaron Redmond (52) was the only Kiwi batsman to show some resistance and his 69-run fifth-wicket partnership with captain Daniel Vettori (38) was the only high point of their innings. Apart from the two, Brendon McCullum was the only other New Zealand batsman to reach double figures as the Pakistan new-ball bowlers Umar Gul and Mohammed Aamer rattled the top order while spinners Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi wiped out the tail.

Earlier, All-rounder Afridi hit a quickfire 50-ball 70 and opener Latif a snail-paced 64 to help Pakistan recover from a precarious 75-4 after Younis Khan won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch. Akmal gave the final touches to the innings with a belligerent 43-ball 67, laced with four sixes and five boundaries as Pakistan ran rampage, collecting 107 in the last ten overs.

Afridi was instrumental in initially stepping up the run-rate with his bold hitting as he smashed three sixes and four boundaries during his 30th half-century. He added 101 runs for the fifth wicket with Latif after New Zealand paceman Shane Bond dismissed opener Salman Butt and Younis — both without scoring — in his incisive five-over spell.

Latif, who scored 19 in his only previous one-day in January last year, was also involved in a 57-run stand for the third wicket with Mohammad Yousuf, who shaped well for his 30 before being run out. Afridi hit Vettori for a six before smashing two off successive deliveries off Nathan McCullum. He hit Bond for a straight drive to reach half-century off 36 deliveries, his first after 33 matches. Afridi’s last ODI fifty came against Zimbabwe at Multan last year.

Lower order flourish

Paceman Jacob Oram finally dismissed Afridi off a miscued shot, caught at short fine-leg in the 39th over. Latif followed, bowled by Vettori’s vicious arm ball two overs later. Latif hit only two boundaries during his 112-ball knock. Kamran made full use of the powerplay and added 86 off just 37 balls for the seventh wicket with Abdul Razzaq, who made 20-ball 26.

The three-match one-day series was relocated to Abu Dhabi after New Zealand refused to tour Pakistan over security fears.

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