New Zealand scored 292-8 and dismissed Pakistan for 208 in the 42nd over at Seddon Park, Hamilton, in the second of three ODIs on Wednesday.
Hay’s aggressive batting ended a mid-innings dip for the hosts as he achieved a career-best score, including 22 runs from the final over bowled by Mohammad Wasim.
The wicketkeeper-batsman hit seven fours and as many sixes in his 78-ball innings after entering the field with New Zealand at 132-5 in the 27th over.
In response, Pakistan’s top order faced early challenges when Will O’Rourke had Abdullah Shafique (1) caught at first slip in the third over, and in the next over, Babar Azam (1) was caught at second slip off Jacob Duffy.
Duffy took another wicket in his subsequent over with the dismissal of Imam-ul-Haq. Pakistan was 9-3 in the sixth over, whereas New Zealand had reached 50-0 at the same stage.
Ben Sears made an impact with two wickets in his first over, removing Salman Agha for 9 runs and Mohammad Rizwan for 5.
A combination of poor shot selection and some lively seam bowling reduced Pakistan to 32-5 after 12 overs.
Tayyab Tahir (13) and Faheem Ashraf put on 33 for the sixth wicket, and when Haris Rauf retired hurt on 3 runs, his concussion replacement Naseem Shah shared a 60-run partnership with Ashraf.
Both players recorded their maiden fifties, with Ashraf scoring 73 off 80 deliveries and Naseem making 51 from 44.
Sears took 5-59 for New Zealand.
Pakistan ineffective with the ball
Earlier, Rizwan won the toss and chose to bowl, facing overcast skies and a green-tinged wicket that favored the bowlers.
New Zealand’s openers Nick Kelly and Rhys Mariu took control early for the home side.
They scored 54 before Kelly, playing his second international, was caught behind for a hard-hitting 31 that included four fours and two sixes.
Mariu followed soon after for 18 off 25 when a leading edge lobbed up to Azam at mid-off in Wasim’s opening over.
Wasim and Rauf slowed the scoring, and it took Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell until the 16th over to get New Zealand to the 100-run mark.
The introduction of spin brought Mitchell’s innings to a halt for 18, stumped by Rizwan when beaten in the air by Sufyan Moqim. Nicholls went for 22 in the following over.
Michael Bracewell and Muhammad Abbas added only 30 runs in the next 10 overs when Bracewell was caught behind off Wasim for 17.
Pakistan-born Abbas and Hay then set about restoring the New Zealand innings with a patient 77-run partnership until Abbas went for 41.
Moqim was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 2-33, while Wasim took 2-78.
The third and final ODI match is scheduled for Mount Maunganui on Friday. Pakistan has already lost the T20 series to New Zealand 4-1.
