Fakhar Zaman scored 126 off 81 balls while Babar Azam scored 66 off 63 balls---a partnership that won the hearts of the fans at M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.
BENGALURU: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Nov 4th, 2023) Pakistan beat New Zealand by 21 runs under DLS method.
The victory was quite important for Pakistan which the strong partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam made possible.
The clash between Pakistan and the Kiwis was interrupted twice due to the rain.
Earlier, New Zealand set 402-run target for Pakistan in a must-win match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Rachin Ravindra scored 108 off 94 balls while Kane Williamson made 95 runs off 79 balls and pushed their side to a strong position in a crush match against Pakistan at Bengaluru ground.
The Kiwis lost six wickets to set such a huge target for Pakistan.
Pakistan made the decision to field first after winning the toss, with their captain, Babar Azam, opting to bowl against New Zealand.
Pakistan's strategy for the match centered around their pace bowlers, as Hasan Ali was included in the playing eleven for this high-stakes clash against New Zealand.
New Zealand, on the other hand, received a significant boost as their skipper, Kane Williamson, returned to action after recovering from a thumb injury. Additionally, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi was recalled to bolster the New Zealand squad for their showdown with Pakistan.
To accommodate the return of Williamson and Sodhi, New Zealand made some changes to their lineup. Will Young was replaced by Kane Williamson, and the injured Matt Henry had to make way for another experienced New Zealand player at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
This match held immense importance for the Pakistan team, as their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of the ICC Men's cricket World Cup 2023 depended on a victory against New Zealand. The pressure was on, and Pakistan knew that they needed not just a win but also a convincing one to boost their net run rate and inch closer to New Zealand's position in the standings. They were well aware that a subsequent victory against England would be necessary to keep their semi-final dreams alive.
The road to the semi-finals had taken an unexpected turn for New Zealand, who started the World Cup with four consecutive victories. However, three consecutive losses and a spate of injuries to key players had put their campaign in jeopardy. The team that won the 1992 World Cup now had to navigate a treacherous path to stay in contention for the coveted title.
Playing XIs:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.
