Pakistan top-order batters continued to prosper as they beat an under-strength New Zealand by 26 runs in the third ODI to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Opener Imam-ul-Haq made 90 off 107 balls and captain Babar Azam scored 54 as the hosts raised a total of 287/6. Imam’s form has been an encouraging sign ahead of theWorld Cup later this year.

Cole McConchie’s (64 not out) late counter-attack saw the 31-year-old smash New Zealand’s fastest half-century on ODI debut off 36 balls before being bowled out for 261 to lose their first ODI series against Pakistan since 2011.

Pakistan chased down two big totals in the first two ODIsat Rawalpindi, including their second highest-ever successful chase in an ODI of 337 in the second game.

New Zealand made a solid start to keep the series alive when Tom Blundell (65), playing his first game of the series, and Will Young (33) put on 83 for the opening-wicket stand. But Young’s run-out saw the middle-order stifled by Pakistan spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz before Blundell too was run out while going for a second run with captain Tom Latham.

“We knew these wickets would not be the same as Rawalpindi wickets, so it was important to give respect,” Imam said after being named Player of the Match. “We knew it was a 280-290 track. We were thinking of 260 but my partnership with Babar helped to get to a good position.”

Brief scores: Pak 287/6 in 50 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 90, Babar Azam 54, Mohammad Rizwan 32; Matt Henry 3/54). NZ 261 in 49.1 overs (Tom Blundell 65, Tom Lathan 45, Cole McConchie 64 n.o.). Pak won by 26 runs.

Written with PTI inputs