Kiwis' first in 49 years

Debutant Will Somerville grabbed three key wickets to guide New Zealand to their first away series win over Pakistan in 49 years with a crushing 123-run win in the third and final Test on Friday.

The off-spinner took 3-52 and was aided by fellow spinner Ajaz Patel's 3-42 as Pakistan came up well short after being set a daunting 280-run target in 79 overs.

They crumbled to 156 in 56.1 overs on a weary pitch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The victory gave New Zealand a 2-1 series win after they had taken the first Test by a narrow four-run margin at the same venue. Pakistan bounced back with an innings and 16-run win in the second Test in Dubai.

New Zealand's last away series win against Pakistan was a 1-0 victory in matches played in Pakistan in 1969.

Captain Kane Williamson, whose 139-run innings turned the match and the series in his side's favour, said: "It was fantastic. Beating Pakistan in their backyard is very tough. It feels pretty special, and this will be one that the guys remember for a long time.

"We know the game can ebb and flow very quickly but we came out and played very well today."

Somerville, who took 4-75 in the first innings to finish with seven wickets in the match, broke a stubborn 43-run sixth-wicket stand between top scorer Babar Azam (51) and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, who made 28.

Patel ended Azam's 114-ball resistance before getting the last wicket when he dismissed Hasan Ali for four, sparking celebrations among the New Zealand players.

Earlier, New Zealand declared their second innings on 353-7 after some 45 minutes of batting with Henry Nicholls remaining unbeaten on 126 and Williamson dismissed at his overnight score of 139.

SCORES IN BRIEF

NEW ZEALAND: First innings 274 & second innings 353 for 7 declared (Williamson 139, Nicholls 126 not out Grandhomme 26; Yasir 4-129, Afridi 2-85)

PAKISTAN: First innings 348 & second innings 156 (Azam 51, Sarfraz 28, Imam 22; Southee 3-42, Patel 3-42, Somerville 3-52)

Result: New Zealand won by 123 runs

Player-of-the-match: Kane Williamson