In the 35th fixture of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan beat New Zealand by 21 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Babar Azam, Pakistan's skipper, won the toss and chose to put Kane Williamson's New Zealand in to bat. It turned out to be a high-scoring encounter with remarkable performances from both sides. New Zealand posted an imposing total of 401-6 in their 50 overs, thanks to an outstanding century by Rachin Ravindra and a brilliant 95 by Kane Williamson.
It was a formidable target for Pakistan to chase, and the stage was set for an exciting contest with brilliant conditions for batting in Bengaluru. Pakistan's openers, Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman, started the innings with intent. Despite losing Shafique early, Fakhar Zaman exploded with a dazzling display of strokeplay. However, at 21.3 overs, the weather seemed to have other plans. Rain intervened and disrupted the match, creating a scenario where (DLS) method came into the equation.
Pakistan needed to chase down the revised target of 342 in 41 overs to stay alive in the race for the World Cup semi-finals. After a brief delay, only 3.3 more overs were possible before the rain returned, preventing further play. Despite the interruptions, Pakistan continued to maintain a lead on the DLS method, securing a crucial two points. The victory kept Pakistan's hopes alive in the quest for a spot in the semi-finals.
Fakhar hammered his way through the innings and scored a scintillating century off just 63 balls, becoming the fastest centurion in World Cup history by a Pakistani batsman. Fakhar's extraordinary innings of 126 off 81 laid the foundation of their victory.
Babar Azam, the Pakistani captain, provided valuable support with a composed 66 off 63 balls. The partnership between Fakhar and Babar ensured that Pakistan remained ahead of the required run rate and ensured their victory by 21 runs through the DLS method with Pakistan 200/1 in 25.3 overs.
Fourth Successive Defeat For New Zealand In World Cup 2023
For New Zealand, the defeat was a significant setback, marking their fourth consecutive loss in the tournament. Despite their impressive total of 401, they were unable to secure a victory. Nevertheless, they remain in the fourth position in the standings.
With this result, South Africa sealed their place in the semi-finals, becoming the second team after India to reach the last four. The battle for the remaining two semi-final spots has intensified, with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and New Zealand all closely competing with the same points, separated only by Net Run Rate (NRR).