Williamson, Henry lead NZ to series win

New Zealand won the fifth and decisive one-day international against Pakistan in emphatic style, ending their tour on a high with a 68-run victory at Abu Dhabi.

Seamer Matt Henry took five wickets while Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor went close to scoring centuries as the Black Caps claimed the ODI series 3-2, breaking a deadlock after the teams fought out 1-1 draws in both the Test and Twenty20 series.

Captain Williamson won the toss and his 97 off 119 balls formed the foundation of New Zealand's 275-4. Pakistan never got going on a jaded pitch, dismissed for 207 in the 44th over.

Henry, 23, became the third-youngest New Zealander to achieve a five-wicket bag, taking 5-30 off nine overs to complete a fine series in which he took 14 scalps at an average of 15.1.

Named man of the match, he was delighted to make a telling contribution in just his sixth ODI.

"It's a great way to start. To come out here and get a series win in these conditions against such a strong side is a special thing. It's just fantastic and we're stoked."

He says he had honed his methods over the past two weeks on unhelpful pitches for pace bowling in the United Arab Emirates.

"It's been a good learning curve for me. From day one we've built on our performances every game and improved every game.

"We've stuck to our plans and it's paid off."

Henry took the first three scalps to reduce Pakistan to 38-3 before later removing opener Ahmed Shehzad (54).

Mitchell McClenaghan bowled Haris Sohail (65) in the 39th over, to effectively end Pakistan's hopes as the run rate escalated.

Anton Devcich took 1-26 off six tight overs before leaving the ground with a shoulder injury while fellow-spinner Nathan McCullum took two wickets.

Williamson put on 116 for the third wicket with Taylor (88 not out off 95) in the game's decisive partnership after openers Martin Guptill (8) and Dean Brownlie (34) departed.

It continues a magnificent run of form for Williamson, who has scored 707 runs from his last 10 innings at an average of 78.6.

He struck eight fours before top-edging a sweep off legspinner Shahid Afridi, the miserly Pakistan captain who took 1-33 off 10 overs.

Taylor's 27th ODI half century featured five fours and a six. He received lively support at the death from Luke Ronchi (16) and Tom Latham (22no).

New Zealand restored Devcich and McCullum to their team in place of spinner Daniel Vettori and Corey Anderson.

Vettori had left for home to attend his brother's wedding while Anderson and fellow-allrounder Jimmy Neesham were both ruled out with groin injuries.

New Zealand face a tight turnaround ahead of the first of two home Tests against Sri Lanka, starting in Christchurch on Boxing Day.