A remarkable 21-run triumph against New Zealand injected fresh morale into Pakistan’s quest for a spot in the semifinals of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Fakhar Zaman’s extraordinary century, complemented by Babar Azam’s impressive half-century, propelled Pakistan to a spectacular victory despite New Zealand setting a formidable target of 402.
Despite intermittent rain interruptions, Pakistan clinched their fourth win in the tournament, boosting their hopes of securing a semifinal berth if future matches align favorably.
Rain intervened in the match with Pakistan at 160/1 after 21.3 overs, with Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman at the crease. Subsequently, a revised target of 342 runs in 41 overs was established.
The match resumed after the rain subsided, and the partnership of Fakhar and Babar added another 40 runs before rain interrupted play once again. When the match was called off, Pakistan had reached 200/1 after 25.3 overs, surpassing New Zealand by 21 runs according to the DLS method, securing their victory.
To secure a spot in the ODI World Cup 2023 semifinals, Pakistan must defeat England in their final league match and rely on New Zealand’s loss to Sri Lanka. A win against England would elevate Pakistan to 10 points, potentially surpassing New Zealand, who would remain at 8 points after their own match, if they lose.
The situation intensifies as both Pakistan and New Zealand could finish with 10 points each if they win their remaining matches. In such a scenario, the semifinal berth would be determined by the net run rate, where Pakistan currently trails behind New Zealand. This necessitates a convincing victory against England to enhance their position.
Pakistan’s path to the semifinals could also clear if Australia faces defeats in their remaining matches against England, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. These results would limit Australia to eight points, enabling Pakistan to surpass them with 10 points. Additionally, Pakistan would prefer an Afghanistan loss to South Africa, aiming to prevent any competitors from exceeding the 10-point threshold.
Regarding the Pakistan vs New Zealand match, Fakhar Zaman’s scintillating 63-ball century propelled Pakistan to the forefront of their monumental chase. Babar Azam contributed with an impressive 66 runs and formed a pivotal 197-run partnership to secure the victory.
In the earlier part of the match, New Zealand had set a colossal target, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s third century of the tournament and Kane Williamson’s crafty 95 runs. Despite their efforts, New Zealand fell to Pakistan’s relentless pursuit.
