Scott Styris and Stephen Fleming scored brilliant half-centuries to lead New Zealand to a huge 274 for 7 against Pakistan in a Group B match of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali on Wednesday.

Styris top-scored with a splendid innings of 86, while Fleming led from the front with a classy knock of 80.

Styris, struggling with a back problem in the latter part of his innings, prospered after a shaky start. He hit 10 boundaries in his 113-ball knock to prop New Zealand.

But it was captain Fleming who played a big hand as the side recovered after being reduced to 60 for 3 by the 15th over. He hit eight boundaries and a six, adding 108 runs for the fourth wicket with Styris.

Fleming also broke a few milestones in this match. He surpassed Arjuna Ranatunga's record of captaining a country most times and the most runs by a captain in one-day internationals.

New Zealand innings:

Pakistan's decision to bowl first paid instant dividends as they struck as early as the second over of the innings. Lou Vincent played all over to an incoming delivery from Umar Gul and was bowled for 3.

Nathan Astle hit a few boundaries for his 15 before offering Younis Khan a comfortable catch in the slips off Naved-ul-Hasan. New Zealand were reduced for 23 for 2 after seven overs.

Fleming's first boundary came in the eighth over, as he lazily pulled Gul over midwicket. His top-edged six off Naved-ul Hasan in the ninth over hit a spectator smack on the head just below the press box.

Peter Fulton fell leg before wicket to pacer Iftikhar Anjum for 7 in the 15th over. A closer look at the replays suggested that the ball could have missed the leg stump.

He could consider himself a bit unlucky after watching Scott Styris not being giving leg before wicket to a closer appeal off Abdul Razzaq in the 20th over.

The Kiwi all-rounder got another chance on 16, when wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal messed up an easy run-out opportunity in 24th over. Akmal just had to take one step and whip off the bails as the batsman had given up his bid to reach the crease. But the keeper chose to throw from arm's length and missed the stumps to the horror of his team mates.

Fleming, captaining New Zealand for a record 194th one-day international, batted with great sense of responsibility and maturity. He brought up his half-century in style -- a magnificent cover drive off Razzaq in the 28th over.

Styris grew in confidence after the shaky start and looked to increase the tempo along with Fleming after the 30-over mark. The duo brought up their 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket in the 36th over as New Zealand started inching towards a big total.

Styris reached his half-century, his first against Pakistan, in 79 balls, including six boundaries, in the 37th over.

In the course of his innings, Fleming broke another record when his reached 76. He surpassed Arjuna Ranatunga and created a new record of scoring most runs as captain in ODI history. He surpassed Ranatunga's tally of 5606 runs, having earlier broken his record for captaining a side in most number of one-dayers.

Fleming, however, did not last long after that. He was caught and bowled by Shoaib Malik after a fantastic innings of 80. His 105-ball knock contained eight boundaries and a six, adding 108 runs for the fourth wicket with Styris.

New Zealand were reduced to 168 for 4 in the 38th over and it remained to be seen whether the lower middle order could continue the good work and take them past the 250-run mark.

For Pakistan, it was a good opportunity to claw back into the match with some quick wickets.

The recurrence of a back strain forced Styris to bat with a runner around the 40th over mark. But his shot-making was still intact as he started to take toll on the bowling in the final overs.

Jacob Oram provided the momentum with a few big hits towards the end. He raced to 31 off 26 balls, inclusive of four boundaries and a six, before falling to Razzaq in the 46th over.

Styris continued to pound the boundaries before being caught off Gul's bowling for a well-made 86. He hit 10 boundaries in 113 balls and never let the back strain affect his batting till he perished.

How much wicketkeeper Akmal might be regretting having missed that easy run-out chance off Styris, when he was on 16. Without doubt, they were made to pay dearly.

Brendon McCullum hit some powerful blows in the end overs to take New Zealand to 274 for 7 in their 50 overs.

He scored 27 from 13 balls, inclusive of with three boundaries and a six, before he was caught by Malik off Razzaq. New Zealand did the most damage in the final 10 overs, scoring 99 runs off them.

Gul was the most successful bowler for Pakistan, claiming 2 for 47 in his 9 overs. Razzaq started well, but was taken apart in his second spell and finished with 2 for 60 in his 10 overs.

Pakistan must be feeling that they just let the Kiwis off the hook after a good start. But a target of 275 should not prove a difficult task for a talented batting side like Pakistan.

The pitch looks good for batting and we should witness a close match, unless Pakistan mess up at the start of their innings. It would be interesting to see if the chemical spray helps in reducing the dew and whether the pitch holds good throughout the Pakistan innings.