ABU DHABI: Kane Williamson hit a brilliant hundred cancelled out Younis Khan's ton as New Zealand won the fourth day-night international against Pakistan by seven runs in an exciting finish in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Williamson's 105-ball 123 steered New Zealand to an imposing 299-5 before Younis Khan's first one-day hundred in six years went in vain as Pakistan finished at 292-8 in 50 over’s.
That left the five-match series leveled at 2-2 with the final game also in Abu Dhabi on Friday to decide the fate.
Williamson said the win was hard fought.
"We built partnership and kept momentum and that gave us a good total and then we came good in bowling and achieved the win," said Williamson.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi blamed poor fielding.
"We didn't field well and that made the difference," said Afridi. "We tried to give happiness to the families who lost their dear ones in Peshawar and that's why we made the decision to play this match."
Younis's 117-ball 103 was his first after 74 innings as he capitalised on a drop catch Ross Taylor off Adam Milne when only on two, but was bowled by left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori (3-53) which ended Pakistan's hopes.
Shahid Afridi helped Younis add a quick 66 for the sixth wicket, hitting five fours and two sixes in his 25-ball 49 but his fall and that if Younis sealed New Zealand's win.
Younis, whose last hundred came against the West Indies at the same venue in 2008, put on 49 with Nasir Jamshed (30) for the second wicket and another 90 for the fifth with Umar Akmal who made 29.
In all Younis hit four boundaries and two sixes. He also became the oldest Pakistani to notch a one-day hundred at 37 years 18 days, leaving behind Zaheer Abbas whose last hundred came at an age of 35 years 331 days.
Pakistan had lost opener Ahmed Shehzad in Matt Henry's first over for a duck.
New Zealand were lifted to the third highest total at the ground of 299-5 by Williamson.
Williamson added 44 for the second wicket with Guptill and another 63 for the third with Taylor, who made 26.
Pakistan won the first and third games.
Williamson, who scored an unbeaten 70 in New Zealand's four-wicket win in the second match in Sharjah, pulled pace-man Mohammad Irfan to deep square-leg for his ninth boundary to complete the three-figure mark off just 92 balls.
He was finally bowled by Irfan off the last delivery of the innings, hitting 12 boundaries and adding another 72 for the fifth wicket with Tom Latham (14 not out).
Williamson's hundred was built on a fine start to the innings.
Guptill and Dean Brownlie had given a solid 81-run start before leg-spinner Shahid Afridi provided his team the breakthrough in the 17th over.
Guptill hit seven boundaries in his 78-ball knock before he was caught behind off pace-man Sohail Tanvir.
Corey Anderson, meanwhile, made 23.
Both teams observed a two-minute silence and wore black armbands to mourn the tragedy in Peshawar.
Pakistan brought in Anwar Ali and Jamshed for Wahab Riaz and Asad Shafiq while New Zealand brought in Vettori, Brownlie and Adam Milne.
