Aamer heroics not enough

Number 10 Mohammad Aamer, right, with a career-best 73, could not quite rouse Pakistan to a famous victory

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New Zealand overcame an unlikely last-wicket century stand to defeat Pakistan by seven runs in the final one-day international in Abu Dhabi and clinch the three-match series 2-1.

Salman Butt and Khalid Latif gave Pakistan’s pursuit of 212 a solid start before a collapse to 101 for nine - only for Mohammad Aamer's unbeaten 73 and Saeed Ajmal's 33 - who had earlier taken 4-33 - combining for 103 to carry their team to the brink of victory.

New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum slammed 76 at the top of the order, while Ross Taylor contributed a useful 44 to a modest total of 211.

The Black Caps opted to bat first - and after a steady start, McCullum soon lifted the scoring rate. He dominated an opening stand of 72 with Aaron Redmond, who fell trying to hit Umar Gul over the top - giving the seamer his 100th ODI wicket.

Martin Guptill was quickly snaffled by off-spinner Ajmal. But McCullum and Taylor, who was dismissed for nought in the two previous matches, shared a 50-run stand.

That partnership was severed when McCullum was caught and bowled by Shoaib Malik, off a leading edge.

New Zealand lost their way thereafter, Scott Styris’ run out triggering a collapse.

Ajmal ran through the middle order - adding the wickets of Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram and Kyle Mills as New Zealand’s last six wickets fell for just 47 runs.

Pakistan’s reply began with Latif dropped by McCullum off Mills on nought.

The opener then drove the same bowler for three consecutive boundaries in his second over.

Butt joined in the strokeplay but Vettori, who had brought himself on in the ninth over, trapped Latif lbw.

Butt was then run out responding to a suicidal call from Younus Khan, and the Pakistan captain himself departed immediately afterwards - edging Shane Bond to Taylor at slip.

Pakistan then crashed from 47 for no loss to 86 for eight. Malik fell attempting to pull Mills, but hit straight to Styris at deep square-leg, Umar Akmal was caught behind off Southee and Shahid Afridi departed in similar fashion.

New Zealand's innings was marshalled by Brendon McCullum, fresh from a fine century a few days ago on the same ground

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Kamran Akmal was Southee’s second victim and when Abdul Razzaq was run out, Pakistan had lost their last recognised batsman with 126 still required for victory.

Gul and Aamer had staved off New Zealand’s bowlers with a partnership that lasted just over 10 overs and contributed only 15 runs, but it was the last wicket stand between Aamer and Ajmal which raised Pakistan’s hopes.

Aamer, who hit Vettori for three sixes in an over, clubbed the bowlers around and raised his half-century with a top-edged boundary off Mills and continued to bat steadily aided considerably by the fall of dew.

The duo added 103 in 16 overs for the 10th wicket to resurrect Pakistan’s innings, but Oram returned to claim Ajmal as Pakistan fell just short.

Mills has been fined 20% of his match fee after being found guilty of two breaches of the ICC code of conduct in New Zealand’s win.

The seamer was hit with charges of showing dissent at an umpire’s decision, use of language or gestures that are “obscene, offensive or insulting” and excessive appealing.

Mills pleaded guilty to using obscene language and was also found guilty of excessive appealing but the disciplinary panel, convened by Andy Pycroft, found the seamer not guilty with regard to the dissent charge.