| New Zealand 401-6 (50 overs): Ravindra 108 (94), Williamson 95 (79); Wasim 3-60 |
| Pakistan 200-1 (25.3 overs): Fakhar 126* (81), Babar 66* (63); Southee 1-27 |
| Pakistan received by 21 runs (DLS) |
| Scorecard.Desk. |
An astonishing batting show saved Pakistan’s World Cup semi-final hopes alive in a rain-affected encounter in opposition to New Zealand in Bengaluru.
Set 402 to win, Pakistan raced to 160-1 in 21.3 overs with Fakhar Zaman hitting a elegant 63-ball century earlier than the rain fell.
Pakistan got a revised goal of 342 in 41 overs however solely 4 extra overs have been doable.
Fakhar completed with 126 and captain Babar Azam 66 in a vital 21-run win.
The Black Caps piled up 401-6 after Rachin Ravindra’s masterful 108, however struggled with a depleted bowling line-up after accidents to seamers Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson.
Pakistan’s batters capitalised on a superb batting pitch, with Fakhar smashing 11 sixes in his knock whereas Babar performed a supportive position.
Regardless of their bowling woes, New Zealand’s batting was strengthened by the return of captain Kane Williamson, who made an imposing 95 in a second-wicket stand of 180 with opener Ravindra.
Cameos from Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips propelled New Zealand previous 400 as Pakistan’s bowlers additionally struggled.
Haris Rauf’s figures of 1-82 have been the costliest by a Pakistan bowler in World Cup historical past, just for Shaheen Afridi to interrupt the report minutes later with 0-90.
The end result retains the group stage open, although New Zealand stay favourites for a semi-final spot due to their superior net-run fee to Afghanistan and Pakistan, with all three groups on eight factors.
Pakistan’s subsequent sport comes in opposition to England on 11 November, who might nonetheless be in competition for a semi-final spot in the event that they beat Australia in Saturday’s later fixture.
Fakhar’s heroics hold Pakistan dreaming
Chasing such an imposing complete required one thing very particular from Pakistan, and 33-year-old Fakhar was fearless within the face of such a problem.
His efficiency was all of the extra unbelievable given the character of his World Cup marketing campaign to date: he performed in Pakistan’s opening sport of the World Cup in opposition to the Netherlands, was dropped for the subsequent 5, then returned with a swashbuckling 81 in opposition to Bangladesh of their most up-to-date outing.
It was a brutal innings however a wise one, too.
There was stress on New Zealand’s strike bowler Trent Boult, given their restricted sources, and Fakhar correctly focused him to take 42 runs from his opening 4 overs.
The skilled Tim Southee took the early wicket of Abdullah Shafique within the second over, however was additionally largely unthreatening, solely taking part in his second sport of the event after a thumb damage.
Unable to include Fakhar’s ferocious scoring throughout the bottom, Williamson turned to his spinners early however with little help from the pitch, they have been simply as ineffective and performed into the palms of two effective gamers of spin.
Ravindra shines once more and. Williamson’s welcome return
New Zealand’s World Cup marketing campaign has been a blended affair, with 4 successive wins adopted by 4 defeats.
However no matter their last place within the desk, they’ve unearthed a star in 23-year-old Ravindra, who turned the primary New Zealand batter to attain three centuries in a World Cup and the primary batter ever to take action of their debut event.
He’s a classical left-hander who possesses a helpful skillset, matching his type and sophistication with the flexibility to attain rapidly in a way that appears easy, exemplified by reaching his century from simply 88 balls.
The calmness of Williamson, making his return from a fractured thumb that he suffered in New Zealand’s win over Bangladesh, made him Ravindra’s excellent companion and the pair handled the enthusiastic Bengaluru crowd to an array of eye-catching drives, lofted sixes and deft touches to the boundary.
Defeat felt merciless on the pair, however as a aspect they are often buoyed by the positivity of Williamson’s return, batting with such fluency it was as if he had strode to the center straight from a web session.
Their batting line-up is considerably stronger with him in it, however is screaming for help from the bowlers.
Seamer Henry has been formally dominated out by a hamstring damage and changed by Kyle Jamieson, which supplies New Zealand one other tempo possibility, and they are going to be hoping that Ferguson can get better rapidly from his wrist damage in time for a key encounter in opposition to Sri Lanka on 9 November.