New Zealand was at last entitled to feel some delight with a One-Day International performance after a comprehensive six-wicket win over Pakistan in the National Bank series at Napier tonight.

New Zealand-Pakistan rivalry is full of occasions when New Zealand sides have been tripped up in the pursuit of seemingly small totals, but Stephen Fleming's men were not prepared to add themselves to the list.

They were in control from ball one and they never let go.

In a season of small scores in one-day matches both at international and domestic level in New Zealand this year, this was one of the smaller contests but after Pakistan's dismissal for its lowest one-day score against New Zealand of 135, every run of New Zealand's response was cheered by a crowd of just over 7000.

Pakistan's batting beggared belief. From the first ball dismissal of danger man Saeed Anwar it was all downhill.

Twice players were caught out having hit sixes from one ball and then trying to repeat it the next. Wasim Akram and Abdur Razzaq, the side's highest scorer with 50, were guilty of offering simple chances when they had time on their side to make many more runs than the record low total of 135 against New Zealand.

Imran Farhat tried to pull a ball wide outside off stump to the onside only to find bowler Daryl Tuffey taking a catch.

Inzamam-ul-Haq paid the price for backing up too far when Razzaq drove straight, straight enough for Tuffey to bend down in a bid to stop the ball, have it pass through his fingers and onto the stumps with Inzamam well out of his ground.

Yousuf Youhana hit a ball from left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori on the bottom of his bat for it to fly to leg slip where Fleming raced around from first slip and held the catch. But for some reason Youhana refused to leave and it was several seconds later before Evan Watkin put his finger up to send him on his way.

Afridi then tried to cut the third ball from Chris Harris' first over but Nathan Astle, positioned at backward point, held the chance to give his hometown team-mate from Christchurch the New Zealand record for most wickets in One-Day Internationals, surpassing the 158 taken by icon Sir Richard Hadlee.

Fleming reintroduced Tuffey and had immediate reward when he claimed the wicket of Moin Khan, caught by Fleming at slip.

Razzaq had soldiered on throughout and brought up his 50 with a lovely straight lofted six from Chris Martin. He tried to repeat it next ball and was out well caught by Harris. At 98/8 Pakistan was in danger of being completely embarrassed.

But Waqar Younis had other plans and marshalled the strike to finish on 22 not out.

The effort was a triumph for Daryl Tuffey who has made huge strides since returning from Africa. Asked to work on his bowling by the national selectors he gained the results in Shell Trophy play, and has responded superbly to the one-day demands.

His return today of four for 24 from his 10 overs was his best return after seven ODIs, having taken two for 36 in his previous best effort.

There was nothing miraculous in the work he has put in, he has just, as he said, "bowled the ball."

Tuffey said taking a wicket with the first ball of the innings had set the tone for the game.

"We created pressure throughout the full 50 overs which was pleasing which probably we haven't done in the past.

"Things are going well. I'm just thinking about bowling the ball, not too much on the technical aspect of it and I'm just enjoying bowling," Tuffey said.

"Since I've been back from Africa things have been going quite well for me and it's just been great."

New Zealand's response was marred by more inaction in the top order, Adam Parore was out in the first over, Nathan Astle was out for 20, and Roger Twose's list of disappointments is lengthening with only five last night.

Fleming looked capable of a match-winning innings but was out on 28 and it was left to Craig McMillan and Lou Vincent to add 62 sensibly-compiled runs for the fifth wicket to see New Zealand home.

Vincent grows with each outing and his 33 not out was his highest score to date and having to hold out the probing bowling of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq will have been a boost for him at this stage of his international career.

Pakistan captain Moin Khan said the effort was a poor one from his side today, New Zealand had bowled well and utilised the conditions very well.

The loss of Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq so cheaply had been a blow but Abdur Razzaq had batted well, he said.

"Shoaib Akhtar got injured and if he had been there it would have been a different game today," he said.

Fleming said the win was "very satisfying, something we're enjoying very much.

"If you can consistently play like that you are going to win a lot of games. Barring a couple of hiccups in the batting it was a pretty useful performance.

"We made use of humid conditions, starting right from ball one the guys bowled with control, and aggression and real purpose througout. We've been guilty at times of taking the foot off the throat, but today I thought it was outstanding right to the end.

"When your bowlers deliver for you your options become so much greater and the praise goes to the total group led by Daryl," he said.

The plan in batting had been to play tight because Pakistan had to bowl New Zealand out.

"If we denied them for a period they were going to search, probably a little too much, and we would have opportunities to score," Fleming said.

"The wicket played pretty well and while we lost wickets throughout and didn't have that one substantial partnership it was enough to get us through and the way the two [Lou Vincent and Craig McMillan] finished it off I thought it was very professional," he said.

It's been a gruelling summer for the New Zealanders, especially with injuries occurring. But last night's win was a welcome relief and a positive pointer to future developments with the side.

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