Kevin Pietersen ended his century drought while Alastair Cook continued his rich vein of form as England claimed a crushing nine-wicket win over Pakistan in the third ODI in Dubai.

After pace bowlers Steven Finn and Stuart Broad restricted the hosts to 222 all out on what looked like a very good batting deck, England's two openers made short work of their target.

Pakistan shot themselves in the foot as early as the fifth over when Umar Gul conceded 15 runs after bowling three wides and a no-ball. Cook smashed a six off the over as well to add insult to injury.

From then on it was all England as their two openers whacked the ball to all corners. The manner in which Pietersen used his feet to the spinners, who have been troubling him throughout the tour of the United Arab Emirates, will no doubt be pleasing to the coaching staff.

The right-hander was dropped on 45 by Azhar Ali and went on to notch up his first century since November 2008. He finished with an unbeaten 111 while Cook followed up his back-to-back tons in the first two games with 80.

The England skipper was dismissed by Saeed Ajmal after he nicked one that angled in and spun away.

The dismissal of Cook saw England promote Eoin Morgan to No 3 in an attempt to get him back in form and he did his part by finishing 24 not out.

The win helps England to a 3-0 series victory with one match still to come in Dubai on Tuesday.

Earlier Finn and Broad knocked the top off the Pakistani innings, reducing them to 50 for four inside 11 overs before Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi revived the innings with a vital stand of 79 for the sixth wicket.

Having lost the toss in the opening two matches of the series, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq gratefully accepted the opportunity to bat first but his top order failed to capitalise.

Finn and Broad took three wickets apiece - two each in their opening bursts as they found movement off the pitch - before James Anderson struck twice in the latter overs to keep Pakistan's tail under wraps.

As impressive a showing as it was from England, it could have been even more clinical. Broad missed out on a wicket in his first over when he overstepped, a couple of run-out opportunities were missed, but more importantly Umar Akmal was dropped by Craig Kieswetter off the bowling of Broad when he was on just 28.

Umar went on to anchor the innings with a 92-ball 50 which put Pakistan back in the game, with Afridi providing the ballast in a key stand through the middle overs.

Three of Pakistan's top five were caught behind the wicket, while Mohammad Hafeez's innings of great potential was derailed by an inswinger from Finn that trapped him lbw for 29, moments after he had survived the Broad no-ball.

Asad Shafiq - recalled in place of the ill Younis Khan - threatened to hold the innings together with Umar, but was caught wandering out of his crease during a shout for lbw and the third umpire judged that his bat was in the air when Alastair Cook's throw was taken to the stumps by Kieswetter.

Relieved of the wicketkeeping duties by his brother Adnan, Umar Akmal found an unlikely level head in Afridi, who scored at a run a ball on his way to 51 without taking any undue risks.

The partnership took Pakistan through to the 40th over and the final piece of the powerplay, which saw their innings fall apart again as Umar was well caught by Samit Patel at midwicket off the bowling of Broad, and Afridi was bowled by Anderson in the very next over.

Umar Gul's unbeaten, run-a-ball 27 provided a late boost, gave Pakistan something to bowl at under the ring of fire at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, but it was never going to be enough.