Bengaluru, 4 November 2023 (WAI): Pakistan and New Zealand played their eighth match today in M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The Babar Azam-led team needed something extraordinary to chase down the record 402-run total.
The left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman produced precisely that to help his team to a shock 21-run triumph via DLS over New Zealand in the Bengaluru run-fest and keep their World Cup hopes alive.
When rain interrupted Pakistan’s drive against New Zealand in their crucial World Cup encounter on Saturday, Babar Azam’s team was 21 runs ahead on Duckworth Lewis’ (DLS) par score. With 25.3 overs bowled, Pakistan had established a comfortable position of 200 for one while pursuing 402 runs for victory.
Shaheens were handed a revised target of 342 in 41 overs (DLS) to win in Bengaluru after a roughly hour-long weather delay. Pakistan needed to chase down New Zealand’s difficult mark in 35.2 overs to increase their net run rate (NRR) and keep their prospects of making the semi-finals alive.
The winning team only lost one wicket throughout their innings, that of Abdullah Shafique while Fakhar Zaman (126 not out) and captain Babar Azam (66 not out) were going strong and had shared a mammoth 194-run partnership.
Pakistan’s surge was led by Fakhar Zaman, who scored a spectacular century off just 63 balls. Fakhar, on the other hand, kept striking hard, notably against Trent Boult and Glenn Philips. His century is the quickest in World Cup history for Pakistan. Meanwhile, Babar Azam stayed strong and scored a superb fifty in the run-chase.
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Earlier, Pakistan’s decision to bowl first did not produce the desired results, as Rachin Ravindra scored a century (108 off 94) for the third time this World Cup and, along with Kane Williamson (95 off 79), put up a significant 180-run partnership for the second wicket, laying the foundation for New Zealand’s imposing total.
New Zealand produced an impressive 401 for six. This was just the second time in this tournament that a side has scored more than 400 runs, with South Africa breaking Australia’s 2015 record of 428 for five against Sri Lanka in their World Cup opener in New Delhi.
This marks New Zealand’s fourth defeat in the 2023 World Cup, complicating the Kiwis’ prospects of reaching the semi-finals.
New Zealand, which has won four matches, has one more to play, which means it’s a must-win for the Kiwis. Meanwhile, Pakistan has won four of its eight games and still has a mathematical chance of qualifying. Pakistan is now fifth in the standings.
An International Relations graduate, with a keen interest in diverse areas of IR; diplomacy, global politics & human rights.
