Guptill, Williamson help Kiwis triumph

Opener Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson have produced a record partnership as New Zealand beat Pakistan by three wickets in a thrilling finish to a rain-disrupted third and final one-day international.

The Black Caps faced an original target of 291 in Auckland and were 5-210, needing 81 runs from 87 balls, when play was halted for an hour on Sunday.

Quick Single: Pakistan create history in Auckland

When it resumed, the equation under the Duckworth-Lewis method was 263 from 43 overs, or 53 runs from 45 deliveries.

With the sun back out at Eden Park, Corey Anderson's quick 35 got New Zealand close before Mitchell Santner hit a pair of fours to secure the victory with two balls to spare.

But Anderson may have been fortunate to survive a spirited caught behind shout off the bowling of Rahat Ali when he was on just 17. 

Anderson appeared to edge an attempted pull shot through to Sarfraz Ahmed, only for umpire Billy Bowden to turn down the spirited appeal from the Pakistan side. 

Anderson then went on to smash the next two deliveries for six, as New Zealand gained the momentum and went on to claim the victory.

The result gives New Zealand the series 2-0 with game two washed out.

Earlier, Guptill (82) and Williamson (84) put on a 159-run stand, New Zealand's highest for the second wicket against all teams.

Skipper Brendon McCullum said the partnership set the platform for the Black Caps, who had bowled Pakistan out for 290 after a score of 330 to 340 had seemed possible at one stage.

"It's still a lot of runs and you have to bat well to chase down a total like that," he said.

"That partnership between Martin and Kane certainly set it up for us and the guys at the end played a responsible hand as well."

McCullum felt the rain probably helped the home side.

"With five wickets down, when the game does get shortened, it probably favours the batting team a little bit," he said.

"It came down to a couple of key moments and we were able to win those."

Guptill and Williamson came together at 1-6 after McCullum had fallen to a first-ball duck - caught in the deep while hooking - in his return from five weeks out with a back injury.

They departed in quick succession, both to opposition skipper Azhar Ali's leg spin.

When Henry Nicholls and Grant Elliott were dismissed cheaply, the Black Caps had slumped from 1-165 to 5-210.

At that point, the drizzle that started during New Zealand's innings became heavy and the covers were brought out.

Pakistan, having won the toss, were bowled out with 2.3 overs to spare.

They had threatened a much bigger total as Mohammad Hafeez (76) and Babar Azam (83) put on 134 for the third wicket in brisk time.

Babar's score was his highest in his nine ODIs and the 21-year-old had looked in control before offering Guptill one of his four catches of the day.

The run rate began to slow as wickets fell regularly and fast bowler Adam Milne took the last three to finish with 3-49.

So far this summer, New Zealand have won all five series across different formats against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Their next assignment is the defence of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy against Australia in a three-match ODI series beginning at Eden Park on Wednesday.