Matt Henry’s first international five-for helped New Zealand to a come-from-behind series victory over Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
The 23-year-old seamer, playing in just his sixth one-day international, dismissed Pakistan’s top three en route to figures of 5-30 from nine over as the Black Caps defended their 275 for four by 68 runs in Abu Dhabi.
Stand-in captain Kane Williamson’s 97 and Ross Taylor’s 88 set New Zealand, who overturned deficits to share the Test and Twenty20 series, on their way after Williamson won the toss.
Pakistan twice led this five-match rubber and struck an early blow today when Mohammad Irfan ousted Martin Guptil.
Dean Brownlie shared a fifty partnership with Williamson until he was trapped in front by Zulfiqar Babar for 37.
Williamson, who made 123 to level the series on Tuesday, and Taylor then combined for the defining stand of the game, adding 116 in 23 overs for the third wicket.
Shahid Afridi had Williamson caught behind three shy of what would have been a fifth ODI ton, but Taylor batted on for 88 not out while Luke Ronchi and Tom Latham hit quick late runs.
Henry struck twice in the reply’s mandatory powerplay, having Nasir Jamshed lbw and Younus Khan caught behind.
With Asad Shafiq also gone, Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail rebuilt via a half-century each.
However, Henry returned to snare Shehzad, held at mid-on for 54, as New Zealand started to chip away at their opponents.
Mitchell McClenaghan then bowled Sohail for 65 and Henry followed up by ousting Sarfraz Ahmed and Shahid Afridi.
In the next over, the 44th, Adam Milne cleaned up Babar to complete victory for a Black Caps side growing in confidence as they prepare to co-host the World Cup.