Pakistan have beaten New Zealand by three wickets in the opening one-day cricket international in Dubai, despite a fighting century from the Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor.
The Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor waves his bat on making his century. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Pakistan now lead the five-match series 1-nil heading into the second ODI in Sharjah, which starts at midnight on Friday.
Haris Sohail scored an unbeaten 85 while Shahid Afridi made a 51-ball 61 with seven boundaries and a six as Pakistan chased down the 247-run target with three balls to spare.
Daniel Vettori was the pick of the Black Caps bowlers with figures of 2 for 40 from 10 overs.
Taylor hit an unbeaten 105 to anchor New Zealand's innings and lead them to a total of 246 for 7 in their 50 overs after paceman Mohammad Irfan had derailed them with figures of 3-57.
The 30-year-old Taylor scored a 135-ball 105 not out for his 11th one-day hundred after New Zealand lost the toss and were put into bat.
Taylor added 58 for the seventh wicket with 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 for five.
Paceman Wahab Riaz claimed the wickets of opener Anton Devcich (26) and Vettori to finish with two for 51.
But Taylor kept one end intact, reaching his 27th one-day 50 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.
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.
New Zealand were forced to sit out opener Martin Guptil and all-rounder Corey Anderson due to injuries.