CHRISTCHURCH (Agencies) - M Hafeez scored his first one-day century and Shahid Afridi blasted the equal-fastest half century in New Zealand as Pakistan levelled their one-day series against the hosts following a 43-run victory at Lancaster Park on Saturday. The batting heroics, which rescued Pakistan from a disastrous start, were complemented by the fielding exploits of Umar Akmal who featured in three crucial New Zealand dismissals. The result levelled the six-match series at 1-1, with one game washed out and three to play. New Zealand never really challenged Pakistan's imposing 293 for seven, with Martin Guptill (39), Jamie How (24) Scott Styris (46), Kane Williamson (42) all getting starts but leaving too many runs for the lower order to overhaul the total. Skipper Afridi also cleverly rotated his bowlers, who expertly changed their pace and angles, bowled to their fields and took wickets just as New Zealand's batsmen appeared set to push on. It was a sharp turnaround in fortunes from the first match, which New Zealand won by nine wickets with more than 32 overs to spare. They showed the hallmarks of that domination in Christchurch when they won the toss, put Pakistan into bat on a green-tinged wicket, and had those two for eight by the fourth over. But from there Pakistan worked their way up to take control, compiling 293-7 in their 50 overs, with Afridi starring in a 126-run charge over the last 10 overs. New Zealand made a bold reply and was ahead of Pakistan in the run rate until the final slog, but they lost wickets at regular intervals and were hanging on grimly at the end to be 250-9. They were unable to take advantage of the short boundaries at AMI Stadium which Afridi plundered at will in a telling innings that included five fours and five sixes and saw him reach his half-century in only 19 deliveries. The stage for the late charge was set by Hafeez, who was partnered by Younis Khan in a 48-run stand for the third wicket, then featured in a 94-run partnership with Misbah-ul-Haq before putting on 52 with Umar Akmal. After Tim Southee, the in-form bowler for New Zealand this season, removed Ahmed Shehzad and Kamran Akmal early, Hafeez turned the tables on the New Zealand bowlers. He belted two fours off Southee's third over, then a four and six off Hamish Bennett's opening over as he worked all corners of the boundary untroubled by the New Zealand bowlers who had difficulty maintaining their lines in blustery conditions. Hafeez, who survived a dropped catch by Brendon McCullum when on 49, reached his century in the 42nd over, cutting New Zealand spin debutant Luke Woodcock to point for a single. But he was undone on 115 two overs later when he sent a top edge to Ross Taylor at midwicket while trying to hit Kyle Mills out of the ground. "I was just concentrating on the game. I missed a couple of opportunities in the test series so I was looking forward to scoring runs in this match," Hafeez said. "We were all looking forward to winning this game... and it was a good team effort." Afridi scored a blistering 65, which included five sixes and five boundaries, as he and Umar blasted a destructive 69-runs off 26 balls as Pakistan made full use of the final power play, scoring 126 runs in the last 10 overs. Afridi's half century was brought up on his 19th delivery, equalling the fastest one-day international half century scored in New Zealand, which is also held by Brendon McCullum. Scorecard Pakistan innings M Hafeez c Taylor b Mills 115 A Shehzad c Styris b Southee 0 K Akmal b Southee 6 Y Khan c Mills b Oram 12 Misbah-ul-haq c Styris b Mills 35 U Akmal b Bennett 44 S Afridi c B. McCullum b Bennett 65 A Razzaq not out 5 W. Riaz not out 1 Extras: (w-6, lb-2, nb-2) 10 Total: (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 293 FOW: 1-2, 2-8, 3-56, 4-150, 5-202, 6-271, 7-288 Did not bat:?Umargul, Sohail Tanvir Bowling: Kyle Mills 10-0-61-2, Tim Southee 10-0-57-2, Bennett 7-0-54-2, Jacob Oram 9-0-55-1, Woodcock 10-0-46-0, Scott Styris 4-0-18-0. New Zealand innings M Guptill c Shehzad b Wahab 39 J How c Umar b Sohail 24 R Taylor c Younus b Gul 6 S Styris c Umar b Hafeez 46 K Williamson b Wahab 42 B McCullum run out 12 J Oram c Hafeez b Sohail 17 L Woodcock b Gul 11 K Mills c Umar b Afridi 17 T Southee not out 13 H Bennett not out 4# Extras: (w12, lb6, nb1) 19 Total: (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 250 FOW: 1-44, 2-67, 3-80, 4-161, 5-179, 6-182, 7-210, 8-217, 9-232 Bowling: Razzaq 5-1-28-0, Sohail 10-0-56-2, Wahab 8-0-43-2 ,Gul 10-0-31-2, Afridi 10-0-45-1, Hafeez 5-0-25-1, Shehzad 2-0-16-0