Ton-up Taylor lifts New Zealand to 246-7

DUBAI: Ross Taylor hit a fighting century to help New Zealand score a challenging 246-7 in the first of five day-night internationals against Pakistan in Dubai on Monday.

The 30-year-old scored a 135-ball 105 not out for his 11th one-day hundred after New Zealand, put into bat, were derailed by some pace bowling by Mohammad Irfan who finished with 3-57.

Taylor added 58 for the seventh wicket with Daniel Vettori (27) in the final overs after steadying the innings during a 44-run sixth wicket stand with Luke Ronchi, who made 23.

Irfan had dismissed opener Dean Brownlie (14) and skipper Kane Williamson (10) in his first five-over spell before returning to take Ronchi´s wicket in the 38th over.

Tom Latham was run out for 13 and Jimmy Neesham was lbw to Shahid Afridi for one as New Zealand were left struggling at 111-5.

Paceman Wahab Riaz claimed the wickets of opener Anton Devcich (26) and Vettori to finish with 2-51.

But Taylor kept one end intact, reaching his 27th one-day fifty with a single and kept New Zealand in the hunt for a respectable total.

He hit Umar Gul for a six and a four and then took a sharp single to complete his hundred off 133 balls with eight fours and a six.

He hit another boundary off Riaz on the final delivery as New Zealand collected 41 in the last five overs.

Pakistan included all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez as a batsman alone after he was suspended over an illegal bowling action but left out hard-hitting Umar Akmal.

That left Pakistan with four genuine bowlers but part-timer Haris Sohail chipped in with ten overs for 39 runs.

New Zealand were forced to sit out opener Martin Guptil and all-rounder Corey Anderson due to injuries. (AFP)