World Cup 2023: Pakistan stay alive after beating New Zealand by 21 runs
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Fakhar Zaman and captain Babar Azam starred as Pakistan pulled off a dramatic, rain-hit 21-run victory over New Zealand to stay alive at the Cricket World Cup on Saturday, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
After New Zealand had piled up a mammoth 401-6, Pakistan were 160-1 in the 21st over when rain brought a stoppage.
Set a revised target of 342 off 41 overs under Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method (DLS) , Zaman had moved to 126 and Azam was on 66 with their team on 200-1 in the 26th over when the rain returned, this time bringing the game to an end and Pakistan declared the winners as they were ahead of the required rate.
Pakistan and New Zealand both have eight points and remain in contention for semi-final spots with a match each left to play in the group stage.
Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam were at the crease at 126 and 66 runs, respectively when the play stopped after the revisits of rain.
Earlier, Pakistan, which were 160/1 in 21.3 overs when rain stopped play in Bangalore, were given the revised target of 342 runs under the Duckworth–Lewis method which they have to score in 41 overs. Hence Pakistan require 182 runs in 19.3 overs.
Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam were at the crease at 107 and 57 runs, respectively when the play resumed after the rain.
Earlier, Rachin Ravindra hit his third century of the tournament while Kane Williamson just missed a hundred as New Zealand pushed Pakistan closer to World Cup elimination by piling up 401-6.
Ravindra continued his superb form with a 94-ball 108 with 15 boundaries and a six and was matched stroke for stroke by Williamson whose 79-ball 95 was spiced with two sixes and ten boundaries.
This was Ravindra's third century of the tournament -- in addition to two half centuries -- and he was in total control until he holed out at deep mid-wicket off Mohammad Wasim in the 36th over.
On a dry looking Chinnaswamy pitch, Pakistan entered the match with four fast bowlers and two part-time spinners and with rain forecast in the afternoon sent New Zealand in to bat.
In contrast, New Zealand brought in leg-spinner Ish Sodhi in addition to three other slow bowlers including an in-form Mitchell Santner.
Pakistan, needing a win to stay in the tournament, have never chased more than the 348 they achieved against Australia in Lahore last year.
Ravindra and Devon Conway scored 66 in the first power-play before Conway fell to a short pitched ball from Hasan Ali after scoring a 35-ball 39 with six boundaries.
Williamson, who recovered from a knee surgery just before the World Cup, had just played one game against Bangladesh before fracturing his thumb.
But the regular New Zealand skipper showed no signs of rustiness and added 180 for the second wicket with Ravindra.
Williamson fell with the score at 248, holing out off Iftikhar Ahmed at long-off while an over later Ravindra also miscued a lofted shot and was caught at the boundary off Mohammad Wasim.
Daryl Mitchell (29) and Mark Chapman (39) added a quickfire 57 for the fourth wicket as none of the Pakistani bowlers could stem the flow of runs.
Glenn Phillips hit a 25-ball 41 with four boundaries and two sixes while Santner was not left behind, smashing two sixes in his 17-ball 26 not out.
Wasim was the best Pakistan bowler with 3-60 but Shaheen Shah Afridi conceded 90 and Haris Rauf 85 respectively in their ten overs -- the worst-ever figures by Pakistan bowlers in all World Cups.
The worst previous World Cup performance by a Pakistani bowler was Hasan's 1-84 against India at Old Trafford in 2019.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 401-6 in 50 overs (R. Ravindra 108, K. Williamson 95, G. Phillips 41; Mohammad Wasim 3-60)