A masterful knock of 101 from Babar Azam and an excellent return of 3-28 from Shaheen Afridi helped Pakistan to a six-wicket win at Edgbaston.

Jimmy Neesham's unbeaten 97 had given New Zealand a chance on a slow pitch, but the Black Caps fell to a first defeat of the tournament and missed out on a chance to confirm a top-four finish.

After rain ensured a delayed start, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson opted to bat, a decision that appeared questionable with the start Pakistan’s bowlers enjoyed.

Mohammad Amir went through the defence of Martin Guptill before Shaheen found the outside-edges of Colin Munro, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham to leave New Zealand reeling on 46-4. 

Shadab Khan piled on more misery with the dismissal of skipper Williamson for 41.

Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme then rescued the innings to halt fears of a major collapse, with the former reaching 50 from 75 balls ant the latter managing a measured half-century of his own.

While a run-out ended de Grandhomme's stay, Neesham continued to be a thorn in Pakistan's side and finished his and New Zealand's innings with a six that took him to a one-day international career-best score of 97 and his team to 237-6.

Fakhar Zaman fell early in the chase and a vicious bouncer from Lockie Ferguson saw to the end of Imam-ul-Haq on 19 with Guptill diving forward from point to take an excellent catch after the ball popped up off the left-hander's bat.

From there, Mohammad Hafeez and Babar steadied the ship with a 66-run partnership.

Williamson was the partnership breaker as Hafeez holed out to Ferguson into the deep to leave Pakistan 110-3.

Haris Sohail – fresh from his 89 against South Africa on Sunday (June 23) – entered the fray and proceeded to be a more-than-capable partner for Babar in a match-sealing partnership of 126.

He was run out in the penultimate over for 68 but captain Sarfaraz Ahmed hit the first ball of the final over for four to seal a famous win.

Pakistan have moved level with Bangladesh on seven points, one behind hosts England in the last of the four qualification spots for the semi-finals.

The ICC Men's World Cup is due to continue tomorrow when the West Indies face India at Old Trafford in Manchester

Round-robin action is scheduled to run through to July 6.