Pakistan stunned New Zealand in a rain-curtailed high-scoring affair at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on 4th November 2023. It was a superb batting paradise with shorter boundaries that helped the batters a lot.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to field first. It was an aggressive start by Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra putting pressure on the Pakistan new ball bowlers. Both New Zealand openers showed intent keeping the scoreboard ticking as they made 66 runs in the first 10 overs.
Hasan Ali got the much-needed breakthrough dismissing Conway with a simple catch to Rizwan. Ravindra and Conway added 68 runs for the opening wicket. Captain Kane Williamson looked in decent touch putting enough pressure on Pakistan bowlers along with Ravindra.
Ravindra completed fifty off 51 deliveries keeping the momentum going on with Williamson. Both New Zealand batters took singles and boundaries at regular intervals. Willamson completed fifty off 49 deliveries not allowing them to settle.
Rachin Ravindra completed his 3rd century in this tournament off 88 balls. It was a superb batting effort by both New Zealand batters. Kane Williamson was dismissed at long-off to Fakhar Zaman. Ravindra and Williamson added 180 runs for the 2nd wicket. Soon after, Ravindra also fell with a simple catch to Saud Shakeel.
Daryl Mitchell came to the crease and showed intent right from the word go along with Mark Chapman. Both batters took a liking to Pakistan’s bowling smashing them for runs. Haris Rauf dismissed Mitchell taking an inside edge onto the stumps. Chapman and Mitchell added 57 runs for the 4th wicket.
Glenn Phillips joined the party along with Chapman hitting boundaries easily. Wasim struck to dismiss Chapman. Phillips and Mitchell Santer put enough pressure on Pakistan’s bowling hitting them for big shots. Wasim struck to get rid of Phillps hitting the pad onto the stumps. Phillips and Santer added 43 runs for the 7th wicket. New Zealand posted 401 for 6 thanks to Mitchell Santer’s six in the last over.
Chasing 402 runs to win, Pakistan lost an early wicket dismissing Abdullah Shafique with a lovely catch by Kane Williamson. Fakhar Zaman showed right from the word go and put pressure on the New Zealand bowling. Babar Azam also joined in the fun with attacking shots not allowing them to settle. At the end of the first 10 overs, Pakistan scored 75 for 1.
After the field restrictions, Zaman looked in sublime form taking the attack to New Zealand part-time spinner Glenn Phillips. Zaman completed his fifty off 39 deliveries keeping momentum for Pakistan along with Babar Azam at regular intervals.
The explosive Zaman completed his century off 63 deliveries and kept Pakistan on track. With the scoreboard reading 160 for 1 in 21.3 overs, the rain arrived. After the rain break, the target was revised to 342 from 41 overs.
After the rain delay, Zaman looked in sensational touch not allowing them to settle. Babar Azam also completed his fifty off 52 balls before rain arrived with the scoreboard reading 200 for 1 in 25.3 overs. The match was called off as heavy rains took place as Pakistan was ahead of the DLS method by 21 runs. For his unbeaten 126, Fakhar Zaman was named the player of the match award.
Pakistan stay in the hunt for the semi-final spot
With this superb win over New Zealand, Pakistan moved to the 5th spot in the points and needed to hope that New Zealand lost their match against Sri Lanka while Pakistan registered another impressive win over England in the last league encounter at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
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