ABU DHABI: New Zealand survived Mohammad Aamir’s explosive half-century to clinch the series against Pakistan with a narrow seven-run victory in the third one-day international here on Monday.

Aamir, 17, hit an unbeaten 73 for his maiden half-century — the highest score by a No 10 batsman in a one-dayers — to bring Pakistan, chasing 212, close to victory after they were 101-9. Pakistan were bowled out for 204, giving New Zealand a 2-1 victory in the three-match series. Pakistan won the first match by 138 runs before New Zealand levelled the series with a 64-run win.

Aamir and Ajmal added a Pakistan record of 103 for 10th wicket but, needing eight off the last over bowled by Jacob Oram, Ajmal holed out for a career-best 33 to end a sensational match. The previous highest one-day score for a No 10 batsman was 56 not out, made by Zimbabwe’s Douglas Marillier against India in 2002.

When Ajmal joined Aamir Pakistan needed a 112 runs in 16.5 overs, but Aamir set the tempo for an unexpected win by hitting Daniel Vettori for three sixes in one over. He and Ajmal approached the target, beating the previous 10th wicket partnership record by Pakistan in all one-day of 72 by Abdul Razzaq and Waqar Younis against South Africa in 1998. Aamir, who hit seven boundaries and three sixes during his 81-ball knock, improved on his previous highest score of 24. In the end New Zealand kept their nerves and did not spoil the early good work by bowlers which saw Pakistan slump from 47 to 101-9.

Off-spinner Ajmal took a career-best 4-33 to raise hopes of a Pakistan win but Salman Butt (25), Khalid Latif (19), Umer Akmal (12) and Shoaib Malik (11) threw away wickets. Pakistan got off to a solid 47-run start before Vettori triggered a slump, trapping Latif leg-before in the ninth over.

Captain Younus Khan (3) continued his poor form, edging Shane Bond to slips. In the previous over, Younus misjudged a single which resulted in Butt’s run out. Umer Akmal (12), Malik (11), Afridi (five) and Akmal (four) played reckless shots.

Earlier Brendon McCullum, who scored a hundred on Friday, stood out once again with an aggressive 78-ball 76 which included three sixes and six fours. New Zealand were on course for a big score but once McCullum got out, Pakistani spinners led by Ajmal sparked a middle-order collapse to take last seven wickets for 47 runs.

Both teams now move to Dubai where they play two Twenty20 matches on November 12 and 13.