NZ vs PAK, ICC World Cup: Pakistan beats New Zealand by 21 runs to maintain semifinal hopes alive

A swashbuckling century from Fakhar Zaman (126 n.o., 81b, 8×4, 11×6) helped Pakistan defeat New Zealand by 21 runs (DLS technique) and maintain alive its hopes of creating the World Cup semifinals.

At the break on Saturday, New Zealand would have been relaxed, having recorded 401 for six, the best whole on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. But a blistering counter-attack from Zaman and a gradual half-century from skipper Babar Azam (66 n.o., 63b, 6×4, 2×6) meant Pakistan had its nostril in entrance in a recreation thrice interrupted by rain.

AS IT HAPPENED: New Zealand vs Pakistan Highlights

Zaman hit as many as 11 sixes, one larger than the opposite, and all besides one whacked into the stands on the leg-side. The 33-year-old was extra egalitarian in his assortment of boundaries, with the eight break up equally both aspect.

This splendid knock was punctuated by a 90-minute rain break. Pakistan was at 160 for one after 21.3 overs, however the goal was revised to a steep 342 from 41. However, the Men in Green chugged alongside merrily, with Babar attending to his fifty with a 4 previous short-fine, then launching Ish Sodhi over long-on and Zaman smashing the leggie over mid-wicket for the final of his big sixes.

The Black Caps desperately wanted a wicket, however one other spell of rain three balls into the twenty sixth over ended up prolonging their look forward to a last-four berth.

Match known as off on account of rain and Pakistan gained by 21 runs by means of DLS technique towards New Zealand.
| Photo Credit:
Bhagya Prakash Okay / The Hindu

But for a lot of the day, the over 20,000-strong crowd would have believed that the 180-run partnership between Rachin Ravindra (108, 94b, 15×4, 1×6) and the returning Kane Williamson (95, 79b, 10×4, 2×6) can be game-defining.

Babar selected to area, maybe with a watch on the climate. With his spinners woefully out of shape, he went in with 4 pacers however Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf collectively bled 257 runs.

MATCH SCORES: New Zealand vs Pakistan full scorecard

Ravindra, watched on by his Bengaluru-based prolonged relations, began with a sublime look to the fine-leg boundary. If that was the appetiser, the principle course was elegant and the dessert luxurious. He cover-drove to perfection and picked bowlers off his legs beautifully, with the towering six over mid-wicket off Rauf to carry up New Zealand’s 200 his stand-out shot.

Williamson was extra workmanlike. Two of his first three boundaries had been edged however he unlocked areas of the bottom like no different, with the lofted six off tweaker Agha Salman probably the most eye-catching.

Though the duo fell in fast succession, the quartet of Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner added 135 runs at over 140. Little did they know that Zaman and the climate had different concepts.