KARACHI: Pakistan faced a five-wicket defeat by New Zealand as the visitors easily chased a 243-run target to win the Tri-Nation Series final played at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi, yesterday.

Will O'Rourke's four-wicket haul, followed by half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham, led New Zealand to win the ODI tri-series. Chasing a modest 243-run target, the visitors comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of five wickets and 28 balls to spare. The Blackcaps, however, got off to a contrasting start to the pursuit as their opener Will Young (five) fell victim to Naseem Shah in the second over with just five runs on the board.

Following the early hiccup, Kane Williamson put together an anchoring 71-run partnership for the second wicket with Devon Conway to put his side in a comfortable position. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha broke the threatening partnership in the 18th over by getting rid of Williamson, who scored a sensible 34 off 49 deliveries with the help of three fours and a six. Conway was then involved in a brief 31-run partnership with Mitchell before falling victim to Naseem just before the halfway mark. The match-defining stand ended with Mitchell's dismissal soon after amassing his half-century. He remained the top-scorer for New Zealand with 57 off 58 deliveries with the help of six boundaries. Latham, on the other hand, walked back in the 45th over when his side needed 11 more runs to clinch the victory. 

Rizwan remained the top-scorer for the home side with a cautious 46 off 76 deliveries, laced with four fours and a six, while Agha made a 65-ball 45 with the help of one four and a six.