A maiden century from Hamish Marshall proved in vain on Wednesday as Pakistan won the third One-Day International against New Zealand by 51 runs.

Despite Marshall's well-crafted hundred, the first of his career at any level, Pakistan took a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

The 24-year-old Aucklander batted throughout 35 overs for his unbeaten 101 from 109 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

He shared in a 107 runs partnership with Chris Harris (46 off 62 balls), the highest of the innings.

Despite the partnership, New Zealand were never able to maintain a run rate that challenged Pakistan's 314 for seven.

Marshall playing in only his third One-Day International, reached his half-century from 70 balls after three wickets were down for 81 in 22 overs.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, returning to the side after serving a three-match ban, drew first blood when he had Craig Cumming (10) caught behind in the third over.

Abdul Razzaq than got the other opener Richard Jones (23) to a sharp catch by Yasir Hameed at midwicket and Mathew Sinclair (32) was run out by a direct throw from Yousuf Youhana.

Marshall and Harris retrieved the position with some sensible batting in murky conditions before Muhammad Sami returned to clean up Harris.

The veteran of 237 matches, playing for the first time in the series, was beaten for pace by Sami who than put the result beyond doubt by dismissing acting captain Chris Cairns.

Cairns had belted a huge six off Shoaib Malik before he skied a catch to Shabbir Ahmed at wide mid-off.

Sami, who destroyed the Black Caps on Monday in Lahore with a spell of five wickets in 11 balls, was again sharp and incisive.

He also trapped Brendon McCullum leg before for one to end with three wickets in three overs in his second spell.

Scoreboard

Pakistan:
Yasir Hameed c Cumming b Walmsley 63
Imran Farhat c Marshall b Vettori 91
Yousuf Youhana c Marshall b Walker 64
Inzamam-ul-Haq b Cairns 25
Abdul Razzaq c Marshall b Walker 34
Shoaib Malik c and b Walker 15
Moin Khan c Cumming b Walker 1
Muhammad Sami not out 1
Saleem Ellahi not out 4.

Extras: (lb-1, w-12, nb-3) 16.

Total: (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 314

Fall of wickets: 1-142, 2-183, 3-236, 4-289, 5-308, 6-309, 7-309.

Did not bat: Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed.

Bowling: Mason 10-0-74-0 (1nb 1w), Walmsley 10-0-53-1 (1nb,2w), Chris Cairns 8-0-48-1 (1w), Matthew Walker 7-0-49-4 (6w), Chris Harris 5-0-21-0 (1-w), Daniel Vettori 10-0-68-1 (1nb 1w)

New Zealand:
C.Cumming c Moin b Akhtar 10
R.Jones c Yasir b Razzaq 23
M.Sinclair run out (Youhana) 32
H.Marshall not out 101
C.Harris b Sami 46
C.Cairns c Shabbir b Sami 9
B.McCullum lbw Sami 1
M.Walker st Moin b Farhat 10
D.Vettori not out 9.

Extras: (b-1,lb-9,w-5,nb-7) 22.

Total: (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 263

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-58, 3-81, 4-188, 5-206, 6-213, 7-226.

Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 7-2-30-1, Muhammad Sami 8-1-22-3 (2w), Abdul Razzaq 10-0-50-1 (4nb 1w), Shabbir Ahmed 10-1-42-0, Shoaib Malik 10-0-64-0 (2w), Imran Farhat 3-0-22-1, Saleem Ellahi 1-0-10-0, Yasir Hameed 1-0-13-0 (3nb).

Result: Pakistan won by 51 runs to take a 3-0 lead in the five-match series