McCullum and Styris star as NZ beat Pakistan

NZPA ©

A century by man of the match Brendon McCullum and three wickets in a two-over burst by Scott Styris propelled New Zealand to a 64-run victory over Pakistan in the second one day international in Abu Dhabi today.

McCullum slammed 131 off 129 balls to anchor New Zealand's innings of 303-8 on a flat pitch before Styris, with three wickets for 23 runs, sparked a middle-order collapse which saw Pakistan bowled out for 239, leaving the three-match series tied at 1-1.

New Zealand lost the first match by 138 runs on Wednesday and the decider will be played overnight Monday (NZ time).

McCullum who hit 14 fours and three sixes in his second ODI century said it was important that he kicked on after he posted his half century.

"I have to perform as a senior player," McCullum said.

"I have had starts but failed to carry on for a big score.

"I am glad I could do it tonight. It was really nice to score a century and win the game for New Zealand."

Captain Daniel Vettori was pleased with the team's fightback.

"We talked about some key things from the last game that we needed to improve on and we came out today and did them exceptionally well."

McCullum and Martin Guptill, 62, had given the New Zealand innings impetus with a good partnership and the team had bowled well.

Fielding had also boosted the team's performance.

"It can make such a difference to the way the bowlers feel and it can turn games around," Vettori said.

"In particular Ross Taylor's catches and Martin Guptill's run outs made such a huge difference and means you only have to take seven or eight wickets when you have fielders like that."

Khan said the McCullum-Guptill partnership was the key for New Zealand.

"McCullum was superb today."

Styris' three wickets plus the run out of opener Salman Butt for 59 meant Pakistan lost four wickets for 10 runs and left it tottering at 134-5 in the 31st over.

Butt and Khalid Latif gave Pakistan a 77-run start until Vettori had the latter trapped in front for 45.

Khan, 19, fell to a spectacular one-handed catch from Taylor at short midwicket at 124-2, then Shahid Afridi, promoted to No 4, clipped the second ball he faced to Taylor.

Kamran Akmal hit straight to Martin Guptill at cover in the next over for Styris' third wicket.

Alongside Styris, Vettori bowled a tidy spell to finish with 2-37 from his 10 overs.

McCullum featured in three good partnerships, the best being 126 for the second wicket with Guptill as the pair rotated the strike with singles while waiting to strike loose deliveries to the boundary.

McCullum's real work began after a needless slog from Guptill began a mini-collapse, at the end of which three wickets had gone 27 runs.

As in the first game, New Zealand's huff was running out at the halfway mark and McCullum now needed to shepherd.

He found good support from an obdurate Vettori who scored 30 as they set about notching a 64-run partnership which stealthily stole momentum back.

McCullum added 56 with Jacob Oram, 33 not out, for the seventh wicket before playing on to a delivery from paceman Umar Gul.