Kane Williamson stars in New Zealand win in second ODI

Kane Williamson's unbeaten 70 helped New Zealand beat Pakistan by four wickets to level the five-match ODI series in Sharjah on Friday.

Williamson' heroics came after Pakistan set a 253-run target. New Zealand's openers, Dean Brownlie and Anton Devcich, provided the visitors with a solid 103-run opening platform.

Brownlie was the first to depart. He fell in the 19th over, for a well-made 47, to Shahid Afridi. His departure brought Williamson to the crease.

Pakistan's bowlers capitalised on their initial breakthrough and dismissed Devcich, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham in quick succession.

But Luke Ronchi's stroke-filled 36 and 58-run stand with Williamson eased the pressure of a few quick wickets in the middle.

Williamson was content to turn the strike around and Ronchi provided the boundary shots, off both the quicks and spinners. He fell in the 43rd over, with the score at 225. Williamson then took charge of the chase, finishing the game in the 46th over.

Williamson hit seven fours in his innings that came off 91 balls. It is his sixth ODI fifty in the last seven matches.

"Credit goes to our bowlers on a fast outfield and slow pitch," Williamson said after winning the Man-of-the-Match award.

"I ran my mate out, so actually should give the award to them. We are not entirely happy to chop and change. Sometimes we have to take measures. I didn't think my bowling today was appropriate, the seamers were doing well. The first game, we played quite well, missed it by small margins. So it was pleasing to win this by winning those small margins"

Pakistan's captain, Shahid Afridi, attributed the loss to an inconsistent bowling performance.

"We missed our chance in our batting," Afridi said. "We lost three wickets early, we should have crossed 280. We didn't bowl consistently either when we needed wickets. We can't think of the ones who are injured, we have to manage with what we have and produce results with them."