In a World Cup match impacted by rain on Saturday, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 21 runs using the DLS syste. Preserving their prospects of making it to the quarterfinals. Rain stopped them mid-run. But opener Fakhar Zaman’s unbeaten 126 and captain Babar Azam’s 66 not out led them on a run chase. After remarkable blowouts from Rachin Ravindra (108) and Kane Williamson (95), New Zealand had amassed a massive 401/6 in their 50 overs. But after rain caused a delay, Pakistan was given a new target: 342 runs in 41 overs. With Pakistan comfortably at 200/1 in the 26th over, the rain returned, and no more play was feasible. Pakistan gained two crucial points after beating the DLS par score by 21 runs.
It’s interesting to note that Pakistan had a bad start to the run-chase as Abdullah Shafique left the team. New zealand bowlers looked well. Just after four overs, losing their opening position in just the second over. Fakhar carried on with his aggressive strategy in spite of the early setback, reaching his half-century in just 39 balls. He faced Trent Boult and Ish Sodhi, and although he was not at all comfortable facing Glenn Phillips. He ultimately made New Zealand captain Williamson remove the spinner from the attack after hitting him for two fours and a six in his fifth over.
Fakhar Zaman destroys New Zealand bowlers
New Zealand lost(by 21 runs on DLS), and Zaman, who was named the player of the match, cheekily revealed that the team was praying there was no more play.
“We were praying that we don’t want any more game to happen (while waiting anxiously in the dressing room during the rain break) because it was already 9 and half hours and we knew that DLS would come into the equation. New Zealand scored 400 runs. We wanted to play with that aggressive mindset and we will play aggressively in the next game also,” Zaman said in the post-match presentation.
Zaman also called the knock against New Zealand as his best in ODIs. Interestingly, he has a double century in ODIs as well.
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