High scores by Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson helped New Zealand register their highest-ever total in the ICC Cricket World Cup history. Ravindra scored his third century of the 2023 edition while Williamson fell five short of a ton on his comeback from injury as the Kiwis stood up a total of 401 against Pakistan in their eighth league match. (NZ Vs PAK Match Blog | Full Coverage)
Ravindra and Devon Conway opened the innings with a 68 run-partnership before the latter returned to pavillion off a Hasan Ali delivery. Nevertheless, Williamson - in at one - picked up where Conway had left off and helped punch the Kiwis to almost 250 before finally conceding his wicket. Ravindra was the next to go, but productive cameos by Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glen Phillips, and Mitchell Santner helped New Zealand to a historic score.
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New Zealand, who are looking to arrest a slump that has witnessed them lose three games in a row, could eliminate all of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, and the Netherlands from semi-final contention, provided they manage to beat the Men in Green. Given New Zealand stand to move up to ten points and considering Australia and Afghanistan are yet to play each other, meaning one of the two will finish with at least nine points, a win could see all of the aforementioned quartet return home early (since they can achieve a maximum of eight points each).
Rachin Ravindra makes history; Kane Williamson comes back in style
Rachin Ravindra became the youngest player to score three centuries in the ICC World Cup history with his ton against Pakistan. The batter scored 108 off 94 deliveris, helping New Zealand rack up a mammoth score. Helping Ravindra in his task was returning skipper Kane Williamson, who struck out at 95 after a splending innings.
