Birthday boy Ross Taylor batters Pakistan

Ross Taylor saluted the New Zealand bowlers for backing up his unbeaten century and completing an emphatic 110-run victory over Pakistan in their World Cup Group A match in Pallekele.

Pace duo Tim Southee (three for 25) and Kyle Mills (two for 43) reduced Pakistan to 45 for five inside 15 overs before they were eventually dismissed for 192 in under 42 overs in pursuit of New Zealand's 302 for seven.

Birthday boy Taylor scored 131 off 124 balls and, in a late blitz, added 84 in 22 balls with Jacob Oram (25 off nine) as New Zealand blasted 100 off their last five overs.

But Taylor, who also stood in for Daniel Vettori after the captain suffered an injury while on the field, credited his bowlers for the "pleasing result".

"To have them six down after 20 overs was a credit for the bowlers," said Taylor, who turned 27 yesterday.

About his blistering innings, which saw him hit his last 62 runs off just 16 balls after being let off by Kamran Akmal twice early on, Taylor said: "I had a bit of luck early on, even when I was at 30 or 40, but the way Nathan McCullum and Jake (Oram] came out and hit showed me the way to play. In the end we had a pleasing result."

Batting first after winning the toss, New Zealand lost Brendon McCullum and Jamie How cheaply, but Martin Guptill and Taylor guided them past 100 from 26 overs.

Guptill, who reached his half-century off 72 balls, fell seven runs later to Shahid Afridi's guile and Mohammad Hafeez soon sent back James Franklin.

However, Taylor hung in to reach his half-century off 78 balls and added 62 with Scott Styris as the Black Caps struggled to 175 with eight overs to go.

But it was carnage thereafter as Taylor, who was dropped twice by Kamran Akmal when on nought and four, combined for 35 in 23 balls with Nathan McCullum after Styris exited for 28.

Gul (three for 32) then dismissed McCullum for a ten-ball 19, but more agony was in store for Pakistan as Taylor and Oram smashed a flurry of sixes and fours in a late onslaught.

Akhtar's ninth over went for 28 - three sixes and two fours - while Abdul Razzaq's next over yielded 30, which also featured a trio of sixes and two fours.

Taylor completed his century off 117 balls, but his last 62 runs came off just 16. In all, the vice-captain smacked eight fours and seven sixes during his well-paced unbeaten innings.

In reply, Pakistan struggled against the New Zealand pace attack as Kyle Mills and Tim Southee reduced the former champions to 45 for five inside 15 overs.

Southee picked up Mohammed Hafeez, Kamran and Misbah-ul-Haq, while Mills dismissed Ahmed Shehzad and Younus Khan.Afridi tried to counter-attack with a couple of fours and a six, but was soon dismissed by Oram.

Umar Akmal and Razzaq then held the Kiwis at bay for the next 11 overs as Pakistan inched past 100, but Nathan McCullum provided the breakthrough by scalping the former for a 58-ball 38 and the slide started soon after.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi regretted his side's failure in all departments of the game and hoped for a better performance in the remaining matches.

"I have no excuse," Afridi said. "We didn't bowl well, we didn't field well. But I am confident in my team and myself. We will not repeat this performance. We should learn from this game."

Afridi rued giving Taylor chances early on in his innings, but hailed his innings. "Taylor played a great knock," he said. "But, if you give chances, this is bound to happen."