CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Pakistan recovered from an early collapse to post 293-7 anchored by a maiden century from Mohammad Hafeez, batting first in the third one-day international against New Zealand.After being put into bat on a green-tinged wicket in Christchurch, Pakistan on Saturday were in early trouble at two for eight in the fourth over before Hafeez turned their fortunes around with a 115-run effort.
In a blistering close to the innings Umar Akmal (44) and Shahid Afridi (65) stepped up the pressure as Pakistan put on 126 in the last 10 overs to wrest the initiative away from New Zealand.
Afridi's explosive knock, which took advantage of the short boundaries at AMI stadium and included five fours and five sixes, saw him reach his half-century in only 19 deliveries.
The stage for the late charge was set by Hafeez, who was partnered by Younis Khan in a 48-run stand for the third wicket, then featured in a telling 94-run partnership with Misbah-ul-Haq before putting on 52 with Umar Akmal.
Hafeez scored around the wicket with ease, untroubled by the New Zealand bowlers who had difficulty maintaining tight lines in blustery conditions.
He brought up his first ODI century in the 42nd over, cutting New Zealand spin debutant Luke Woodcock to point for a single, but was undone two overs later trying to Kyle Mills out of the ground.
Having hit Mills over the long-on boundary for six he tried to repeat the shot with the next delivery but it was top-edged to Ross Taylor at midwicket.
Tim Southee, who has been the form bowler for New Zealand this season, struck with only his third ball when he had Ahmed Shehzad caught at second slip.
Bowling into the wind, Southee delivered a good length delivery outside off stump which Shehzad dabbed at without conviction and edged the ball to Scott Styris to be dismissed without scoring.
With the first delivery of his next over Southee had a ball come back on Kamran Akmal, who shaped to cut but clipped the ball back on to the stumps to be gone for six.
Hafeez then made his intentions known and put life into the Pakistan innings when he belted two fours off Southee's third over, then a four and six off Hamish Bennett's opening over.
Bennett was taken out of the attack after conceding 22 runs in three overs and Jacob Oram had success in his first over when he duped Younis Khan with a slower delivery which was lofted to Mills at mid-on.
He came within a whisker of removing Hafeez on 49 when a diving Brendon McCullum spilled a hard chance to his right and two balls later the batsman brought up his eighth ODI 50 with an easy single to third man.
McCullum did not have the best of innings behind the stumps for New Zealand, missing a simple chance to stump Misbah-ul-Haq, but later made amends with a diving catch to his left to dismiss Afridi off the bowling of Bennett.
For New Zealand, Bennett took two for 54, Southee two for 57 and Mills two for 61.
