Pakistan vs. New Zealand, 4th ODI: Highlights, Scorecard and Report

New Zealand took the ODI series with Pakistan to a deciding game after winning a thrilling fourth game in Abu Dhabi by seven runs.

In a game that see-sawed both ways, New Zealand’s patched-up spinner Daniel Vettori took three wickets—including that of Pakistan century maker Younis Khan—to seal a thrilling win.

Pakistan took to the field despite doubts about the game taking place following the terrorist attack in Peshawar on Tuesday.

Captain Shahid Afridi said at the toss that his side were playing the match for the victims of the atrocity, while a two minutes’ silence was observed prior to the start of play.

Francois Nel/Getty Images

New Zealand won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat on a superb-looking track in Abu Dhabi.

Martin Guptill and Dean Brownlie got the Black Caps off to an excellent start, with the pair scoring at a run a ball and looking in no real trouble.

The introduction of spin checked the momentum a shade and, with the score on 81, Brownlie clipped a ball from Shahid Afridi to the grateful hands of Umar Akmal at midwicket.

Francois Nel/Getty Images

Guptill eased his way past 50 but he edged behind off Sohail Tanvir. By this point, Kane Williamson was well established and he and Ross Taylor put on 63 in 13 overs.

Taylor edged behind off the giant figure of Mohammad Irfan, but Williamson went on the attack during the final Powerplay as he dominated partnerships with Corey Anderson and Tom Latham that added a combined 91 in the final 10 overs and saw him complete his fourth ODI century.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Minutes	Balls
MJ Guptill	c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Sohail Tanvir	58	100	78
DG Brownlie	c Umar Akmal b Shahid Afridi	42	67	48
KS Williamson*	b Mohammad Irfan	123	150	105
LRPL Taylor	c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Irfan	26	50	37
CJ Anderson	c Umar Akmal b Anwar Ali	23	26	20
TWM Latham	not out	14	42	12
Extras	(lb 4, w 9)	13
Total	(for 5; 50 overs)	299
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Sohail Tanvir	10	0	75	1
Mohammad Irfan	10	1	53	2
Anwar Ali	9	0	50	1
Shahid Afridi	10	0	46	1
Haris Sohail	8	0	47	0
Ahmed Shehzad	3	0	24	0

Pakistan’s innings got off to a poor start, as a bit of late outswing from Matt Henry beat the defence of Ahmed Shehzad and sent his off stump cartwheeling.

Mitchell McClenaghan’s pace was impressive from the off, with the speed gun regularly topping 150mph. He was unlucky not to claim the prize scalp of Younis Khan when the batsman was on two.

Francois Nel/Getty Images

McClenaghan took the outside edge of Younis’ bat, but Taylor shelled the chance at slip. Younis took advantage of his life and eased his way into his innings before upping the tempo.

Daniel Vettori is feeling his way back to fitness, with a World Cup clearly in mind, and he produced another superb spell of bowling.

There was not a huge amount of turn for the spinner, but there are few better exponents of flight and guile than Vettori, and he struck with his first ball to remove Mohammad Hafeez.

Vettori’s miserly bowling ramped up the pressure on Pakistan and Haris Sohail, seeking to release the shackles, picked out Latham at long-on.

"

Can we keep Daniel Vettori forever? Like can we put him in the freezer and take him out for big games

— Kane Williamson (@NotNossy) December 17, 2014"

With Vettori tightening the screw, the run rate rose rapidly, and with 10 overs remaining, Pakistan required 89 runs for victory.

But Pakistan had Younis and Shahid Afridi at the crease. The pair increased the scoring rate, with the latter crashing 49 off 25 balls.

"

The best balls-to-sixes ratio in one day internationals #PakvNZ #Cricket pic.twitter.com/jRkHvTblRW

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 17, 2014"

However, Afridi fell in the over after Younis brought up his century to leave the game firmly in the balance.

That balance tipped massively in favour of New Zealand as Vettori returned for one final over and removed Younis with a straight one that beat the batsman's heave towards the fence.

New Zealand were now in the tail and their bowlers kept their nerve to secure a tense victory.

Batsman	How Out	Runs	Minutes	Balls
Nasir Jamshed	lbw b Anderson	30		46
Ahmed Shehzad	b Henry	0		2
Younis Khan	b Vettori	103		117
Mohammad Hafeez	c †Ronchi b Vettori	3		11
Haris Sohail	c Latham b Vettori	13		25
Umar Akmal	run out (McClenaghan)	29		37
Shahid Afridi*	c †Ronchi b Milne	49		25
Sarfraz Ahmed†	c †Ronchi b McClenaghan	18		13
Sohail Tanvir	not out	11		12
Anwar Ali	not out	20		13
Extras	(b 4, lb 6, w 5, nb 1)	16
Total	(for 8; 50 overs)	292
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
MJ Henry	10	0	68	1
AF Milne	10	2	39	1
MJ McClenaghan	10	0	69	1
CJ Anderson	8	1	40	1
DL Vettori	10	0	53	3
KS Williamson	2	0	13	0

The win ensured New Zealand kept the series alive and set up a final-game shootout at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.