ABU DHABI: Kane Williamson hit a brilliant hundred as New Zealand won the fourth day-night international against Pakistan by seven runs in an exciting finish in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Pakistan went ahead with the match despite calls to postpone it after a Taliban attack on a school in Peshawar on Tuesday. Both teams observed a two-minute silence and wore black armbands as a tribute to the victims.

Williamson’s 105-ball 123 steered New Zealand to an imposing 299-5 before Younis Khan’s first one-day hundred in six years got Pakistan agonisingly close as they finished on 292-8 in 50 overs. Younis’s 117-ball 103 ended a drought lasting 74 innings as he capitalised on being dropped by Ross Taylor off Adam Milne when only on two.

However, when the veteran was seventh out bowled by left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori (3-53) Pakistan’s hopes were all but dashed.

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, followed shortly afterwards by Younis’s departure, saw the match swing back New Zealand’s way.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2014