PAK vs NZ | Fakhar Zaman Outmuscles Rachin’s Ton In Pakistan’s Historic Triumph

Babar Azam goes big in the run-chase against NZ (AP)

Brief Scores: New Zealand: 401-6 (50 overs) [Rachin Ravindra: 108 (94), Kane Williamson: 95 (79); Mohammad Wasim 3/60 (10), Iftikhar Ahmed 1/55 (8)] lost to Pakistan: 200-1 (25.3 overs) [Fakhar Zaman: 126* (81), Babar Azam: 66* (63); Tim Southee 1/25 (3)] by nine wickets (DLS)

Pakistan stunned New Zealand in a rain-curtailed run-chase in Bengaluru to jump back to the World Cup 2023 semifinals reckoning.

Rachin Ravindra, Williamson take NZ to 401/6

Rachin Ravindra and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson ensured Pakistan bowlers had to wait nearly 24 overs between wickets by sharing 180 runs at the top. After being invited to bat first in Bengaluru, Ravindra and his opening partner Devon Conway raced to 68 without loss until the latter miscued a pull to become the 100th ODI wicket of Hasan Ali’s career.

Ravindra, on the other hand, tonked his third century of the 2023 World Cup by top-scoring for his side with 108. New Zealand’s comeback man and batting veteran also listed an identical 95 before their sudden dismissals allowed the middle-order to go berserk in the backend of the innings.

Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner collectively minted 135 runs from just 87 deliveries combined, all within the final 15 overs to take New Zealand to 401-6, their record World Cup total.

The ‘Black Caps’ also consigned Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf to Pakistan’s worst-ever bowling figures in World Cup matches, both achieving the unwanted record within just 15 minutes of each other.

Fakhar Zaman subdues NZ with record ton

Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique was entrapped by Tim Southee within the first two overs to become his side’s lone casualty of their rain-curtailed innings. His opening partner Fakhar Zaman, meanwhile, pounded 11 sixes and eight boundaries throughout the next 23 overs and formed an unbroken 194-run partnership with captain Babar Azam.

Fakhar clubbed an 81-ball 126* and had raced to his hundred from just 63 balls to record Pakistan’s fastest-ever century in a World Cup game. Skipper Babar notched up a half-century of his own by scoring a near run-a-ball 66*.

Amidst repeated rain interruptions, the play was called off in the 26th over of the run-chase, at a time when Pakistan found itself 21 runs ahead of their par score.

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