Glenn Phillips played a starring role as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 78 runs in the opening match of the Tri-Nation Series. (More Cricket News)

The all-rounder notched his maiden ODI century, while he also claimed the crucial wicket of Fakhar Zaman to stop the hosts in their tracks in Lahore.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat at the Gaddafi Stadium, though they lost Will Young (four) and Rachin Ravindra (25) inside the first eight overs.

Kane Williamson (58) and Daryl Mitchell (81) steadied the ship and kept the scoreboard ticking over, though it was not until the 44th over that Phillips (106) took centre stage as he smashed 77 runs off 32 balls.

BY PTI

That left Pakistan a target of 331, with Zaman (84) leading their charge. However, he was claimed by Phillips for lbw at 119-4, and that seemed to halt the hosts' momentum.

New Zealand never looked in danger thereon,todaybet and eventually bowled their opponents out for 252 with 13 balls remaining.

Fakhar Zaman laid the platform, but Pakistan found little support around himA big win for New Zealand in the tri-series openerScorecard: https://t.co/io1MQvJUYV | #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/zaDLXSyEwJ

Data Debrief: Black Caps stall Men in Green

New Zealand claimed only their second victory in six matches against Pakistan, whose run of successive ODI victories came to an end.

While Phillips took the plaudits, Williamson contributed with a half-century, albeit his slowest in an ODI (82 balls).

The team led by Ammad Buttubet63, finally secured their first victory with a 2-1 win over Japan and then delivered a decisive 5-1 win against China, to enter the semi-finals. Their final pool match ended in a narrow 2-1 loss to India.