BENGALURU: Fakhar Zaman’s sensational 126-run knock trumped Rachin Ravindra’s century as Pakistan pulled off a daunting pursuit against New Zealand to keep their ICC World Cup 2023 hopes alive.
Set to chase 402, Pakistan edged New Zealand by 21 runs as per the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method, courtesy of an astounding onslaught by Fakhar.
The green shirts had a contrasting start to their pursuit as their in-form opener Abdullah Shafique (4) perished cheaply with just six runs on the board in two overs.
Despite the early blow, Fakhar Zaman launched an onslaught on the Blackcaps’ bowlers and brought up his 11th ODI century in just 61 deliveries.
After being invited to bat by Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam, New Zealand opening batters Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scripted a flying start with a 68-run partnership.
His quickfire knock put Pakistan 10 runs ahead of the DLS par score when rain intervened in the 22nd over.
The rain interruption resulted in the high-scoring ICC World Cup 2023 clash being reduced to 41 overs with Pakistan requiring a further 182 runs in 19.3 overs.
Meanwhile, Fakhar carried on his domination and took Pakistan 21 runs ahead of the DLS par score when rain interrupted again.
The second spell of rain was more severe and persistent, forcing the match to be called off.
Consequently, Pakistan claimed a 21-run victory over New Zealand and grabbed two crucial points to keep their semi-final hopes intact.
Fakhar Zaman remained unbeaten with an astonishing 126. His 81-ball knock featured eight boundaries and 11 sixes.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam, on the other hand, offered notable support to unstoppable Fakhar with an anchoring 66 in 63 deliveries, hitting six boundaries and two sixes.
For New Zealand, only Tim Southee could pick up a wicket.
They scored at a quick rate and kept the run rate just above 6 before Hasan Ali provided Pakistan with the first breakthrough in the 11th over as Conway miscued a pull shot and was caught behind after scoring 35.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, who replaced Will Young in the side after recovering from a thumb injury, then joined Ravindra and together they annihilated Pakistan’s bowling attack.
They knitted 180 runs for the second wicket from 142 balls, pushing the total to 248 in the 35th over, before Williamson was caught on the boundary in an attempt to clear long-off.
Williamson played a blistering innings of 95 from 79 deliveries, with the help of ten boundaries and two sixes.
The 23-year-old Rachin Ravindra on the end, scored his third century during the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023, becoming the first batter to score three centuries in the tournament before turning 25.
He also became the first New Zealand batter to score three centuries in a single edition of the World Cup.
However, he soon followed his skipper back to the pavilion as he tried to hit Mohammad Wasim over midwicket but was caught by Saud Shakeel at the boundary.
Ravindra’s record-breaking 108 took only 94 balls and featured 15 boundaries and one six.
After two quick wickets, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman joined hands and added a brisk 57 runs from 32 balls for the fourth wicket before the former was bowled by Haris Rauf.
Mark Chapman was joined by Glenn Phillips with the scoreboard reading 318 in the 42nd over, however, their 27-run stand was ended by Mohammad Wasim as the former departed after scoring 39 off 27.
Phillips then played a blistering knock of 41 off 25, with the help of four boundaries and two sixes and added 43 runs for the sixth wicket before being castled by Wasim in the penultimate over.
Mitchell Santner (26) remained unbeaten on the other end and saw his team cross the 400-run mark for the first time in World Cup history.
Mohammad Wasim topped the bowling chart for Pakistan with figures of 3-60, while Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed picked one wicket each.
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