New Zealand have taken their five-game series against Pakistan to a decider.
The tourists won the fourth ODI by seven runs in Abu Dhabi today to square the rubber at 2-2.
Having won the toss and made 299 for five, New Zealand had to withstand a determined fightback by Pakistan over the second half of their chase, but restricted them to 292 for eight.
Pakistan needed 16 off the last over, bowled by seamer Matt Henry, and managed just eight.
Each team had a batting hero.
Captain Kane Williamson hit a fine 123 off 105 balls, dismissed off the final ball of New Zealand's innings, while veteran Younis Khan made 103 off 117 balls to carry Pakistan within sight of what would have been an emotional victory.
The game was played to a backdrop of the murderous rampage by the Taliban at a school in Peshawar which left over 140 children and teachers dead on Tuesday.
There was debate whether the match should be postponed in the light of the attack; however, the Pakistan Cricket Board said it had to proceed with the game to fulfill obligations with broadcasters and sponsors.
Williamson won his first toss of the series and the batsmen cashed in against a clearly lacklustre Pakistan fielding performance.
Openers Martin Guptill and Dean Brownlie put on a brisk 81, both enjoying some good fortune, interspersed with handsome strokes.
But Williamson was the rock.
He worked the ball impressively around the park, drove sweetly and pierced the onside field neatly.
It was the seventh time in his last nine innings in which he has passed 50, a quality run of ODI form.
His fourth ODI hundred - all of them scored away from home -- anchored New Zealand's innings. Only Nathan Astle (16), Ross Taylor (11), Stephen Fleming (8) and Guptill (5) have scored more ODI centuries for New Zealand.
Williamson's average, 42.34 in 58 matches, is superior to all that quartet.
Taylor was dropped at deep square leg off a rank full toss delivered first ball by part time legspinner Ahmed Shezhad and was not at his best in getting to 26, while Corey Anderson made 23.
One pleasing aspect of the innings was each stand made a decent contribution, producing 81, 44, 63, 39 and 72.
Pakistan's players clearly didn't want to be part of today's game.
There were emotional scenes during the two minutes silence preceding the game, opener Shezhad and Younis the most visibly affected by the events in Peshawar.
Their fielding was lacklustre, there was no celebrating of wickets, most notably absent being captain Shahid Afridi's trademark arms outstretched at the taking of a wicket.
- NZME.
