Bengaluru (Karnataka): Pakistan survived for another day after they beat New Zealand by 21 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-curtailed ICC World Cup match here on Saturday. After New Zealand's mammoth first innings score of 401, it seemed that Pakistan's Babar Azam might have to step down as skipper on Saturday.
But Fakhar Zaman hit a brilliant unbeaten century (126 off 81 balls) that included eight fours and 11 sixes. Captain Babar Azam remained not out on 66 off 63 balls with six fours and two sixes. This loss made it difficult for Kane Williamson's team to advance to the semi-finals.
Now New Zealand will have to defeat Sri Lanka in their upcoming game by a big margin. Earlier, Pakistan bowlers were again taken to the cleaners after New Zealand batters smashed them mercilessly to post 401-6 in 50 overs in their ICC World Cup 2023 fixture at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here.
Pakistan won the toss and put the Kiwis into bat on a placid batting track and the Black Caps made full use of the track and milk the Pakistani at will. Pakistan's first success came 11 over when Hasan Ali sent opener Devon Conway back at his individual score of 35 off 39 deliveries with the help of 6 hits to the boundaries. New Zealand's team score was 68.
Thereafter, Black Caps batters Indian-origin Rachin Ravindra and skipper Kane Williamson made sure that they didn't lose wickets, and that too at a brisk pace. Both hammered the opposition bowlers all around the park. Kane Williamson was dismissed 5 short of what could have been his 14th ODI ton. His 95 came off 79 deliveries with 10 fours and a couple of sixes. Rachin Ravindra smashed his third ODI hundred in just 88 balls laced with 14 boundaries and one over the fences. But, Ravindra could only make 108 off 94 balls before he was sent home by Mohammad Wasim Junior.
In the meantime, New Zealand crossed the 300-run mark and already posed a bigger threat to dash Pakistan's outside chance of making it to the last four stages. Daryll Mitchell (29 off 18), and Mark Chapman (39 off 27) produced cameos to take the Black Caps to a mammoth total past 350. Whoever came to the crease wielded bats like there was no tomorrow based on the foundation made by Ravindra and skipper Williamson. Glenn Phillips, coming in at number 6, kept the momentum going hitting the Pakistan pacers at will for his 25-ball 41 with four fours and two sixes.
All Pakistani bowlers found themselves at the receiving end with Mohammad Wasim's figure looking a bit decent with three wickets conceding 60 runs.
Brief scores: New Zealand 401-6 in 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 108, Kane Williamson 95, Glenn Phillips 41, Mark Chapman 39; Mohammad Wasim Jr 3/60) lost to Pakistan 200-1 (Fakhar Zaman 126, Babar Azam 66) by 21 runs via D/L method
- Qualification scenario for Pakistan:
- If New Zealand wins by 50 runs, Pakistan will need to win by 180 runs.
- If New Zealand wins by 1 run, Pakistan will need to win by 131 runs.
- Assuming Afghanistan loses both their remaining matches.
- Only Sri Lanka can save Pakistan.
- If New Zealand beats Sri Lanka then Pakistan will be knocked out of the tournament as Pakistan need to win in less than 27 overs or win by 135+ runs minimum which is almost impossible task,
- So Pakistan will be practically knocked out in case New Zealand beats Sri Lanka. Pakistan is highly dependent on Sri Lanka to win against New Zealand and Afghanistan to lose one match.
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