Picture : ICC / X
Pakistan did the impossible , chasing a mammoth New Zealand total of 401 , they emerged winner in the match hit by rain . Decided by the dreaded D/ L method Pakistan won by 21 runs at Bengaluru.
Earlier Pakistan Skipper Babar Azam toss and opted to bowl first . Devon Conway scored 35 . The find of the tournament Rachin Ravindra impressed yet again with a superb 108 ( 94 balls , 15 fours , 1 six). Returning to the playing eleven after recovering from thumb injury Kiwi Skipper Kane Williamson scored a fine 95 ( 79 balls, 10 fours. 2 sixes), Daryl Mitchell ( 29), Mark Chapman ( 39), Glenn Phillips ( 41), Mitchell Santner not out 26 . Kiwis reaching an imposing 401 / 6 in their 50 overs.
Pakistan bowling figures : Shaheen Afridi 0/ 90 ( 10 overs), Hasan Ali 1/ 82 ( 10 overs), Iftikhar Ahmed 1/ 55 ( 8 overs), Haris Rauf 1/ 85 ( 10 overs), Mohammad Wasim Jr 3/ 60 ( 10 overs), Agha Salman 0/ 21 ( 2 overs)
In reply Pakistan lost opener Abdullah Shafique for 4. But Kiwis were sent on leather hunt by Pakistan. Opener Fakhar Zaman once again played an astonishing innings unfazed by Kiwi total. Zaman was blistering in his 126 not out ( 81 balls , 8 fours, 11 sixes) . Skipper Babar Azam gave Zaman able support with a fluent innings . Azam remained not out on 66 ( 63 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) . Pakistan 200/ 1 in 25.3 overs. Then rain came down and forcing the match to go to D/L method .
Following a short spell of rain, Pakistan were set a revised target of 342 in 41 overs. The rain returned in the 26th over with Pakistan cruising at 200 for one but no play was possible thereafter.
New Zealand bowling has been below par in this CWC23 : Trent Boult 0/ 50 ( 6 overs), Tim Southee 1/ 27 ( 5 overs), Mitchell Santner 0/ 35 ( 5 overs), Glenn Phillips 0/ 42 ( 5 overs), Ish Sodhi 0/ 44 ( 4 overs), Daryl Mitchell 1 ( 0.3 )
With the Pakistanis ahead of the DLS par score by 21 runs, they took home two much needed points and keep alive their semi- final hopes. It was the fourth successive defeat for the Kiwis.
Match: World Cup 2023, 35th Match
Venue: Bengaluru | Date: November 04, 2023
