Afridi blows away New Zealand

Shahid Afridi attacks as his half-century helped Pakistan overcome New Zealand

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Shahid Afridi sparkled with bat and ball as Pakistan steam-rollered New Zealand with a 138-run victory in the first one-day international in Abu Dhabi for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Pakistan, opting to bat first, had built nicely around Afridi’s quickfire 70 to reach a total of 287 for nine with opener Kalid Latif contributing a steady, if occasionally ponderous, 64 and wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal providing acceleration at the end with an unbeaten 67.

New Zealand were feeble in reply, the only resistance coming from 52 from Aaron Redmond and 38 from Daniel Vettori as they were skittled out for 149.

Afridi grabbed two wickets, including the crucial one of Vettori in 10 overs.

Younus Khan’s decision to bat first had backfired as paceman Shane Bond exploited the bounce and movement the surface had offered to have opener Salman Butt and Pakistan captain Younus cauht behind for nought.

Pakistan were two down without a run on the board and New Zealand’s bowlers had shackled the opposition with a stifling line, but Mohammad Yousuf’s 30 combined nicely with Latif to settle nerves with a 57-run stand for the third wicket.

Yousuf was just beginning to assert himself - he had clubbed Jacob Oram for consecutive boundaries - when he attempted a single and was caught short of his crease by an accurate throw from Martin Guptill at cover.

His dismissal left Pakistan tottering at 75 for four after 23.3 overs, but the balance tilted with Afridi’s typically breezy innings.

He smacked Vettori for a six and struck two more in one Nathan McCullum over as he sped to his 30th ODI half-century off just 36 deliveries, in the process putting on 101 for the fifth wicket with Latif, the latter reaching his maiden half-century.

Afridi was snared by Oram, shuffling across his stumps but locating short fine-leg, and Latif bowled by Vettori, but Akmal and Abdul Razzaq made hay at the death to propel Pakistan beyond the 250-mark.

Akmal reached his half-century from 35 deliveries and put on 86 from 43 balls for the seventh wicket with Razzaq as Pakistan finished at a canter.

Umar Gul soon derailed New Zealand’s chase, bowling Brendon McCullum and his replacement Martin Guptill in successive overs.

Young paceman Mohammad Aamer had dangerman Ross Taylor caught behind for nought and Scott Styris was caught off Razzaq for five at deep square-leg as the Black Caps crashed to 50 for four in little more than 15 overs.

Redmond, with Vettori for company, had revived the chase with a partnership of 69 for the fifth wicket, the opener reaching his maiden half-century along the way.

But his dismissal – lbw to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal – triggered another collapse as the Black Caps were bundled out with more than 10 overs to spare.