Kiwis win thriller despite Aamer's heroics

Abu Dhabi: Batting at number 10, a sensational display by 17-year-old Mohammad Aamer, helped Pakistan almost pull off an improbable win in a one-day international but New Zealand managed to stay cool to lift the Cool & Cool Cup.

Down and out at 86 for 8, chasing 212 for a win, Pakistan were soon nine down for 101 before Aamer played one of the most audacious innings of all-time in the shorter form of the game and rewrote quite a few records but fell short in the final stride.

With eight runs needed off the final six balls, Aamer's partner Saeed Ajmal was caught by Kyle Mills off Jacob Oram for 33. Aamer remained not out on 73, the highest ever score by a number ten batsmen but the young champion was a heart-broken lad.

Most of the 10,000-plus Pakistan supporters left but a few thousand die-hard fans remained to witness a remarkable turnaround in fortunes. 

In the end, New Zealand played like a team while Pakistan hardly looked like one until Aamer's heroics at the end.

Set to score 212 for a win, Pakistan made a mess of their run chase as they seemed to be hurtling towards defeat after a strong start. From 47 for no loss they went reeling to 86 for eight.

After Vettori broke the opening stand when he dismissed Khalid Latif for 19, Salman Butt was run out for the second time with 25 and after that the floodgates opened.

Skipper Younus Khan's poor run continued as he edged Shane Bond for three while Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal also departed after entering double figures.

The fairly large crowd then began to leave when Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal also fell in quick success and from then on it looked like it was only a matter of time.

The Pakistanis were now battling to better their previous lowest of 116 which was against the same rivals in a tri-series in Dambola, Sri Lanka in 2003.

Last man Mohammad Aamer belted three sixes in four balls off Vettori and Pakistan bettered that dubious distinction.

Aamer, who topped Butt as Pakistan highest scorer when he reached 26 then took the batting powerplay in the 36th over. 

Aamer, after that initial thrashing of Vettori, settled down and played an innings which put to shame most of his experienced teammates. But in the end he remained unbeaten on 73 from 81 balls with seven fours and three sixes.

Aamer broke Zimbabew's Doug Marillier's record of 56 runs as a number 10 batsmen against India in 2001-02.

The Kiwis, who lost the opening match, came back strongly with back-to-back wins and clinch the series 2-1 and improve their recent dominance over Pakistan which now reads eight wins in the last 10 matches.