Pakistan ended a run of 12 successive defeats in one-day internationals (ODI) against New Zealand on Friday in Abu Dhabi as they claimed a six-wicket win to ensure their three-match series goes to a deciding game in Dubai on Sunday.
The streak of losses, which stretched back to 2014, ended in emphatic fashion as Pakistan cruised a comfortable victory with 57 balls to spare.
New Zealand had mustered only 209-9 in their 50 overs after choosing to bat, with Ross Taylor's unbeaten 86 off 120 balls getting them to a competitive score.
Shaheen Afridi took centre stage as he took 4-38 with the ball, and also had a hand in running out the New Zealand captain Kane Williamson when he only had one to his name.
Despite lose Imam-ul-Haq early in the innings as the opener retired hurt, Fakhar Zaman (88) and Babar Azam (46) ensured the run chase was always in control in the Pakistan reply.
Even though both men and and Shoaib Malik (10) were dismissed late on, along with captain Sarfraz Ahmed (13), Mohammad Hafeez (27 not out) saw the team home on 212-4 to square the series at 1-1 after New Zealand's victory in the first ODI on Wednesday.
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