Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Khalid Latif hit half-centuries to help Pakistan reach 287-9 in the first day-night international against New Zealand at Abu Dhabi Stadium here on Tuesday. Dashing all-rounder Afridi hit a quickfire 50-ball 70 and opener Latif a snail-paced 64 to help Pakistan recover from a precarious 75-4 after Younus Khan won the toss and opted to bat on a flat pitch.
Akmal gave the innings final touches with a belligerent 43-ball 67 laced with four sixes and five boundaries as Pakistan went on a rampage, collecting 107 in the last ten overs. Afridi, vice captain of the side, was instrumental in initially stepping up the run-rate with his bold hitting as he smashed three sixes and four boundaries during his 30th half-century.
He added 101 runs for the fifth wicket with Latif after New Zealand paceman Shane Bond dismissed opener Salman Butt and Younus - both without scoring - in his incisive five-over spell. Latif, who scored 19 in his only previous one-day in January last year, was also involved in a 57-run stand for the third wicket with Mohammad Yousuf, who shaped well for his 30 before being run out.
Afridi hit Vettori for a six before smashing two off successive deliveries off Nathan McCullum. He hit Bond for a straight drive to reach half-century off 36 deliveries, his first after 33 matches. Afridi's last ODI fifty came against Zimbabwe at Multan last year. Paceman Jacob Oram finally got Afridi off a miscued shot, caught at short fine-leg in the 39th over to break a repair-damaging partnership.
Latif followed, bowled by Vettori's viscious arm ball two overs later. Latif hit only two boundaries during his 112-ball knock. Kamran's innings was special as he made full use of the power-play, and added 86 off just 37 balls for the seventh wicket with Abdul Razzaq, who made 20-ball 26. The three-match one-day series was relocated to Abu Dhabi after New Zealand refused to tour Pakistan over security fears.