Following winning the toss and sending New Zealand in, the bowlers for Pakistan were thoroughly outclassed. In just 141 balls, Rachin Ravindra as well as Kane Williamson built up a 180-run partnership for the second wicket.
When they collapsed, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, and Mark Chapman profited from the momentum. They were able to give everyone a swift knockdown as a last flourish thanks to this.
With the new ball, Pakistan hardly managed any lateral movement, but there was an initial spongy bounce. Nonetheless, Ravindra and Williamson quickly came to terms with it. After getting off to a strong start, the pair applied further pressure over the 21–30 over period, when they scored 86 runs without taking a wicket.
Not that the principal bowlers were spared either, but they did not let the fifth bowling alternatives of Iftikhar and Agha Salman get settled at all. Once more, only Muhammad Wasim stood out, all the more so when he discovered the opposite at the end. In the end, New Zealand posted a humongous total of 401 runs on the scoreboard.
Pakistan register crucial win courtesy DLS method
Had it not been for the weather, fans may have been in for an amazing classic. When New Zealand put more than 400 on the board, no speculator would have predicted them to win.
However, before the rain arrived, Fakhar Zaman emerged and went on the rampage, breaking the quickest century ever achieved by a Pakistani player in the World Cup and putting his side comfortably up on DLS. It was crucial for Pakistan to avoid losing any wickets in the little time of play following the first rain break, but he wasn’t done there either.
This would have had a major impact on DLS estimates. Fakhar also smacked Sodhi for another couple of sixes to put them ahead even further. Pakistan now have a good chance of qualifying to the knock-out stage. This is when some other results go in their favour as well.
Fans react as Pakistan clinch crucial 21-run win via DLS method over New Zealand in ODI World Cup 2023: –
Pakistan have defeated New Zealand by 21 runs on DLS par method. pic.twitter.com/eSwq2J4Qqz
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 4, 2023
Brilliant game awareness by Pakistan and timely ining by Fakhar Zaman.Fakhar has won a champion trophy for pakistan in 2017 and repeating the same for pakistan when they are done and dusted for this world cup.Hatts of to him??
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) November 4, 2023
FAKHAR ZAMAN PLAYED AN ICONIC INNINGS EVER IN ODI HISTORY….!!!
If there is a big stage, Pakistan should call Fakhar and he has proved again at Chinnaswamy – An absolute blockbuster to remember ever. pic.twitter.com/I4Ik3gSnST
— Mintu Dutta (@MNGamin65372627) November 4, 2023
If the match would be of 50 overs, Pakistan would have lost definitely…
— VJ (@VJsGamer) November 4, 2023
NZ just have to win Against SL and they'll qualify by NRR.
— Ayush (@guj_se_hu_mc) November 4, 2023
Ind vs Pak Semifinal Loading ?.
Pic Unrelated pic.twitter.com/7ryWpiYFlT
— Aufridi Chumtya (@ShuhidAufridi) November 4, 2023
— Aman (@Chiku_Bhaiya) November 4, 2023
Finally a comprehensive win for Pakistan
— Anupama Singh (@anupamaasingh) November 4, 2023
Congratulations ? Pakistan! Today, there was no suffocation at all! Thanks to Fakhar Zaman's innings.
— Aditya Nandode (@TaiyouSun) November 4, 2023
