Bengaluru, 4 November 2023: Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam steered Pakistan to victory over New Zealand in the 35th match of the World Cup, which was subjected to rain delays and was ultimately determined by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
Tasked with chasing New Zealand’s mammoth 401-6, opener Abdullah lost his wicket in the second over after making four off nine deliveries. Fakhar Zaman, however, had a record-breaking run, scoring a century off 63 balls – the fastest hundred by a Pakistan batter in a World Cup match. He also became Pakistan’s first batter to hit 11 sixes in a single match since Shahid Afridi’s record setting innings against Sri Lanka in 1996.
Skipper Babar Azam managed to clinch 66 not out off 63 balls with six boundaries and two sixes. Fakhar’s final score before rain halted play stood at a spectacular 126 off 81 deliveries with eight boundaries and 11 sixes.
Fakhar and Babar’s 194-run partnership became the joint-highest partnership by a Pakistan pair in a World Cup match tied with Wajahatullah Wasti and Saeed Anwar’s historic 194-run partnership against New Zealand in the 1999 World Cup semi-final.
Earlier, New Zealand played an inscrutable innings with batters Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson firing up their side beyond 400. Ravindra scored 108 off 94 before being caught by Saud Shakeel off the bowling of Mohammad Wasim Jnr in the 36th over while Williamson fell five runs short of a century making 95 off 79 balls before he was caught by Fakhar Zaman off the bowling of Iftikhar Ahmed.
New Zealand opener Devin Conway was sent packing earlier in the 11th over by Hasan Ali after making a modest 35 off 39 deliveries. Glenn Philips and Mark Chapman scored 41 off 25 and 39 off 27 respectively. Both batters were bowled by Wasim Jnr while Daryl Mitchell made a meager 29 of 18 balls before losing his wicket to Haris Rauf.
The match was decided by the DLS method which awarded the victory to Pakistan as they were 21 runs ahead of the par score after 25.3 overs.
Scores in Brief:
Pakistan won by 21 runs (DLS)
New Zealand 401-6, 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 108, Kane Williamson 95; Mohammad Wasim Jnr 3-60, Iftikhar Ahmed 1-55)
Pakistan 200-1, 25.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 126 not out, Babar Azam 66 not out; Tim Southee 1-27)
Player of the match - Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
