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LAHORE, Pakistan, Sunday (Reuters) - A career-best all-round performance by Shoaib Malik inspired Pakistan to their first clean sweep in six years on Saturday as they defeated New Zealand by 66 runs in their third one-day international.

Malik, who replaced off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and played as a make-shift opener, struck 12 boundaries in a 142-ball 115 -- his personal best -- to propel Pakistan to 278 for five from their 50 overs.

He then took three wickets for 37 with his off-breaks as the injury-stricken visitors were dismissed for 212 in 45.4 overs.

The 20-year-old Malik, whose half-century came from 76 balls with the next 50 runs scored off 40, featured in two major partnerships.

He first added 93 off 80 balls for the second wicket with the in-form Yousuf Youhana before Youhana was smartly caught by leg-spinner Brooke Walker off his own bowling after making a rapid 53 including five boundaries and two sixes.

Malik then put on 72 for the third wicket with Inzamam-ul-Haq, who also fell to Walker after scoring 35.

Pakistan, on 191 for three, then seemed to lose their way, debutant Misbah-ul-Haq struggling to 28 off 37 balls after being promoted ahead of the in-form Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq.

Razzaq Rip

Razzaq, though, helped out with two fours and a six in his unbeaten 22 off 11 balls as 71 off the last 10 overs.

New Zealand never looked in the hunt after losing opener Chris Nevin in the third over, all their batsmen getting starts but failing to go on.

Skipper Stephen Fleming was unlucky when bowled by Malik. Television replays showed the ball had rebounded from the pads of wicketkeeper Rashid Latif before dislodging the bails.

"It is an excellent victory in terms of confidence," Pakistan captain Waqar Younis said, looking forward to the two-test series starting in Lahore on Wednesday.

"I think we are at the top of our game and peaking at the right time. However, I would certainly like to see improvement in certain areas, including fielding."

Fleming was disappointed with the series after his team had reached the final of a tri-series in Australia ahead of the world champions and beaten England 3-2 at home.

"We have been outplayed in the series by Pakistan who were in full strength and had better guns. Had we got Chris Cairns, Shane Bond and Dion Nash, the series might have been more interesting," he said.

"But...if we show a bit more determination and stick to task, we can change things around."

It was Pakistan's first clean sweep of a three-match series since beating Zimbabwe in 1996-97.

PAKISTAN

Shoaib Malik c Butler b Adams		115
Shahid Afridi c Styris b Adams		 18
Yousuf Youhana c and b Walker		 53
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Tuffey b Walker	 35
Misbah-ul-Haq c Butler b Tuffey		 28
Abdur Razzaq not out			 22
Younis Khan not out			  4
Extras (W-2, NB-1)			  3
TOTAL (for five wickets, 50 overs)	278
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-26, 2-119, 
3-191, 4-250, 5-262.
DID NOT BAT: Rashid Latif, 
Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar,
Mohammad Sami.
BOWLING: Tuffey 8-2-29-1 (nb-1 w-1), 
Adams 8-0-57-2 (w-1),
Styris 9-0-65-0, Butler 10-0-46-0, 
Harris 5-0-32-0, Walker10-0-49-2.

NEW ZEALAND

C. Nevin b Waqar Younis			 2
M. Horne b Abdul Razzaq			28
C. McMillan c Inzamam-ul-Haq b M. Sami	38
S. Fleming b Shoaib Malik		15
L. Vincent b Shahid Afridi		32
S. Styris st Rashid Latif b S. Malik	19
C. Harris lbw b Mohammad Sami		37
A. Adams b Shoaib Malik			 1
B. Walker run out			10
D. Tuffey run out			 0
I. Butler not out			 2
Extras (B-3, LB-10, W-5, NB-10)		28
TOTAL (all out, 45.4 overs)		212
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-7, 2-71, 3-83, 4-121, 
5-142, 6-165, 7-169, 8-194,
9-195.
BOWLING: Waqar Younis 5-1-22-1, 
Shoaib Akhtar 4-0-23-0
(nb-4), Mohammad Sami 8.4-0-42-2 (nb-5 w-2), 
Abdur Razzaq
8-0-38-1 (nb-1 w-1), Shoaib Malik 10-0-37-3 (w-2), 
Shahid Afridi
10-0-37-1.
Man-of-the-match: Shoaib Malik (Pakistan).
Series: Pakistan won 3-0
First match: Karachi, Pakistan won by 153 runs.
Second match: Rawalpindi, Pakistan won by three wickets.

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