Third one-day international, Christchurch:

Pakistan 293-7 (50 ovs) bt New Zealand 250-9 (50 ovs) by 43 runs

Match scorecard Hafeez's maiden ODI ton came in his 61st game Mohammad Hafeez hit his maiden century to set up a 43-run victory over New Zealand in the third one-day international in Christchurch. Opening batsman Hafeez hit 115 off 144 balls and Shahid Afridi hit 65 from 25 as Pakistan posted a formidable 293-7. Scott Styris (46) and Kane Williamson (42) gave the hosts hope but they could manage only 250-9 from their 50 overs. The six-match series is now all-square after the second match in Queenstown was washed out on Wednesday. Tim Southee gave his side early success after New Zealand opted to bowl first, dismissing Ahmed Shehzad and Kamran Akmal, while Jacob Oram claimed Younus Khan to leave Pakistan reeling at 56-3. But Hafeez and Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq stemmed the fall of wickets and took Pakistan past 100 in the 26th over. 606: DEBATE A great knock from Hafeez, his solid, patient innings was the difference between the sides

Amir Kyle Mills gave New Zealand the breakthrough when Misbah (35 off 64 balls) holed out to mid-off, which brought Umar Akmal to the middle. Hafeez reached three figures soon after, before Pakistan switched up a gear in the powerplay overs. The duo took the visitors past 200 in the 43rd over and added 52 off 45 balls before Hafeez, who hit 12 boundaries and two sixes in his innings, perished trying to hoist Mills over mid-on. The stage was set for Afridi's blitz and the Pakistan captain did not disappoint, moving to his 31st fifty in only 19 balls and sharing a 26-ball stand of 69 with Umar Akmal, who fell to Hamish Bennett after making 44. Bennett also ended Afridi's stay in his next over but by that time the captain had hit five sixes and five boundaries. In reply, New Zealand blazed to 50 inside nine overs, although they lost opener Jamie How (24 off 25 balls), who was outfoxed by a slower ball from Sohail Tanvir. Pakistan kept up the pressure, with Umar Gul removing stand-in skipper Ross Taylor in his first over and Wahab Riaz dismissing Martin Guptill (39 off 39 balls) to leave the Kiwis reeling at 80-3. Styris and Williamson took their side past 100 but the Kiwis managed only 24 runs in the eight overs after the fall of the third wicket. With 133 runs needed off 112 balls, Styris tried to break the shackles but was brilliantly taken by Umar Akmal just inches inside the rope at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Hafeez. Riaz then castled Williamson before McCullum was run out by Umar Akmal, which left two new batsmen - Oram and Luke Woodcock - with the task of scoring 111 in 72 balls. And once Oram - who hit a massive six over long-on off Afridi - departed, holing out in Tanvir's next over, the result was a formality. The fourth match will take place in Napier on Tuesday, before the series moves on to Hamilton on Thursday.



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