Elliott leads Kiwis to big Wellington win

Opener Martin Guptill has shown some welcome glimpses of form as New Zealand dealt Pakistan an emphatic seven-wicket defeat in the first one-day international at Wellington.

Guptill scored 39, followed up by unbeaten stand of 112 for the fourth wicket between half-centurions Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott as the Black Caps eased to 213-3 off 39.3 overs in reply to the tourists' inadequate 210.

It continued a lacklustre start to the New Zealand visit for Pakistan, who lost both warmup games in Christchurch against an invitation side.

Two weeks out from the World Cup, they will hope to generate some momentum in the second and final ODI at Napier on Tuesday after their batting and bowling looked rusty on the sluggish Westpac Stadium pitch.

Aside from some deliveries from paceman Mohammad Irfan (1-60), Pakistan rarely threatened New Zealand's batsmen, with Guptill welcoming the chance to spend some time at the crease following some erratic returns during the recent series win over Sri Lanka.

He survived a loud shout for lbw off the first ball of the innings from Irfan - which would have been his third royal duck in the space of three weeks if given.

Captain Brendon McCullum (17) and Tom Latham (23) departed before Guptill was caught in the deep off Irfan, completing a decent day's work after having claimed three catches - two of them sharp efforts in the gully.

Allrounder Elliott further cemented his place as a World Cup first-choice player, gliding effortlessly to 64 off 68 balls to follow up his bowling return of 3-26 off 4.3 overs.

Taylor was more circumspect in scoring his 29th ODI 50, reaching 59 off 81.

Pakistan also had two players pass 50 but captain Misbah-ul-Haq's 58 off 87 and Shahid Afridi's blistering 67 off 29 stood alone.

The veteran pair salvaged the tourists' faltering batting before they were skittled in 45.3 overs.

McCullum won the toss and his decision to bowl first was rewarded on the fifth ball as Kyle Mills trapped Mohammad Hafeez without a run on the board.

Pakistan never recovered, not helped by the accuracy of the New Zealand seamers on a pitch unconducive to stroke playing.

Mills was demanding with the new ball, taking 2-29 off 10 while new ball partner Trent Boult (2-25) and allrounder Corey Anderson (2-47) also impressed.

New Zealand made four changes from the side who lost the seventh and final game against Sri Lanka by 34 runs at the same venue on Friday.

McCullum returned, along with pace bowlers Boult and Adam Milne and spinner Nathan McCullum.

They replaced Kane Williamson, who is resting a sore shoulder, Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan and Daniel Vettori.