In a rain-affected ICC World Cup match, Fakhar Zaman's explosive 63-ball century led Pakistan to victory, marking New Zealand's fourth consecutive loss. The match was determined by the DLS method due to the weather conditions.
Zaman’s unbeaten 126 off 71 balls motored Pakistan to 200-1 in 25.3 overs, 21 runs ahead on DLS, after there had been two rain interruptions in a high-scoring match.
ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan revive campaign as Bangladesh slide to sixth straight defeat
New Zealand’s star of the tournament, Rachin Ravindra (108), had earlier smashed his third century in the competition, while Kane Williamson (95) missed out on a hundred on his return as his side amassed 401-6 after being put in to bat.
The win lifted Pakistan level on eight points with New Zealand, which occupies fourth place in the standings by virtue of a better net run-rate than Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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Pakistan, which also lost four games in a row at one stage, could sneak into the semifinals with its last league game scheduled against England on Nov. 11.
New Zealand began the tournament with four consecutive wins against England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the Netherlands, but has now lost to India, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan.
The Black Caps need to beat Sri Lanka in its last league game and hope Pakistan loses to England, or cannot come close to its net run-rate.
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Zaman’s power-hitting kept his side in the hunt in a steep run chase before rain took the players off the field with Pakistan cruising on 160-1 in 21.3 overs, ahead by 10 runs on DLS.
Captain Babar Azam (66 not out) played second fiddle to Zaman, who smashed 11 sixes against pace and spin as the pair stretched their match-winning stand to 194 before the rain returned.
Zaman was ruthless against leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, playing his first game of the tournament. He and Babar plundered three sixes in Sodhi’s penultimate over.
In the later game at Ahmedabad, Australia made 286 all out against England. Marnus Labuschagne hit 71 off 83 balls while Cameron Green (47) and Steve Smith (44) made useful contributions.
Chris Woakes, who picked up the wickets of Travis Head and David Warner inside the batting powerplay, took 4-54. Mark Wood (2-70) again finished with expensive figures.//