Williamson belts New Zealand to victory against Pakistan

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KaneWilliamson

New Zealand captain Williamson led by example with a stunning knock of 123 runs from only 105 balls as his side posted 299-5 in Dubai on Wednesday.

Pakistan made a great fist of their reply, with Younis Khan making a fine 103 and stand-in skipper Shahid Afridi adding a quickfire 49, but New Zealand were not to be denied as they squared the five-match series at 2-2.

It looked as though Pakistan would pull off an impressive run chase with the experienced Younis and Afridi at the crease, but Pakistan fell short as they made 292-8 and the two sides now face a series-decider in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Daniel Vettori marked his recall to the side by taking 3-53 - including the wicket of Younis - for the tourists, while opening batsman Martin Guptill (58) played his part with a half-century.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wanted the game to be postponed following the tragic attack in Peshawar on Tuesday in which at least 141 people - 132 of those being children - were killed.

But the game went ahead with the players wearing black armbands and the PCB vowing to donate proceeds to families of the victims.

Afridi revealed that the players were "shocked and hurt" by the events back home, but they had to turn their attention to attempting to seal a series win after Williamson won the toss and opted to bat first.

New Zealand made a positive start as Guptill and Dean Brownlie (42) put on 81 for the first wicket before the latter was dismissed by Afridi (1-46).

The tourists moved the score on to 125 before the dangerous Guptill was caught behind off the expensive Sohail Tanvir (1-75) and Ross Taylor (26) was unable to build on a promising start as Mohammad Irfan (2-53) accounted for the former skipper.

Williamson stood firm to hold the innings together though, as he scored at a brisk pace and brought up his fourth ODI century off only 92 balls in a knock which he also become the highest scorer for his country in all formats this year.

The right-hander was finally out off the last ball of the innings after Corey Anderson had chipped in with 23 and 91 runs came from the last 10 overs.

Matt Henry dismissed Ahmed Shehzad (0) in the first over of Pakistan's reply and Nasir Jamshed was sent on his way for 30 in his first ODI for a year with the score on 52.

Vettori then accounted for Mohammad Hafeez (3) and Haris Sohail (13), with Pakistan appearing to have little chance of sealing the series at 82-4.

Younis and Umar Akmal set about rebuilding the innings with a fifth-wicket stand of 90 before the latter was run out for 29, but with Afridi arriving at the crease anything was possible.

The all-rounder followed up his impressive display in the third ODI by setting about the New Zealand attack, smashing two sixes and hitting five boundaries, and Younis was also in destructive touch.

Despite their best efforts Pakistan were unable to get over the line, as Younis was out with five overs remaining and Anwar Ali's late cameo of 20 from 13 balls came in vain.

 

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