Pakistan completed one of the greatest chases in the history of One-Day International cricket, albeit with some help from cricketing gods who often conspire with elements to show who's in control of things. Needing two points against New Zealand to stay relevant in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. But what followed in the next 50 overs was a nightmare for the 1992 champions. (As It Happened | Scores | Photos)
Fit-again Kane Williamson returned to lead the Kiwis, the last edition's losing finalists, and the skipper promptly stamped his authority with a sumptuous knock of 95 runs off 79 balls. The pain of missing out on a personal landmark was however assuaged by the fact that the Kiwis recorded their highest total in the ODI World Cup, 401/6, and young Rachin Ravindra became the first player to score three centuries in a debut campaign. They also posted the highest total against Pakistan in the World Cup with Shaheen Shah Afridi becoming the first Pakistani bowler to concede 90 runs.
Williamson himself took a sensational catch in the second over of Pakistan's chase, and the Kiwis looked certain to end their three-match losing streak. But Pakistan took only 20-odd overs to change everything. 6/1 in two overs became 200/1 in 25.3 overs. It was beyond anyone's wildest imagination. Amid rain stoppages, Fakhar Zaman hit 11 sixes and eight fours to smash Pakistan's fastest World Cup century record, and in the company of skipper Babar Azam, the opener helped 'Men In Green' set the platform for a late onslaught but still with many variables still in play.
The return of a mercurial captain, two contrasting centuries and one dubious record should have been enough to settle any cricket match. But on Saturday, at Bengaluru's iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium, the result of the pivotal ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match between Pakistan and New Zealand was decided by one of the most complex rules in sport, the dreaded Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method. The second time the play was stopped due to rain, Pakistan were ahead by 21 runs on the DLS par score, and the declaration soon followed, after the third quarter. With four wins in eight, Pakistan moved to fifth position. Check the points table HERE.
Pakistan live to fight another day. With that, here's a look at the all key stats and numbers from match 35 of the ICC Cricket World Cup between Pakistan and New Zealand:
- Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first against New Zealand providing the 252nd occasion of a team doing so in the Cricket World Cup. It also provided the 15th occasion of Pakistan doing so in the World Cup. This was the 21st occasion of New Zealand being inserted to bat first by the opposition in the World Cup.
- New Zealand posted 401 for six to provide the fourth occasion of a team posting 400-plus runs after being inserted by the opposition in the World Cup. The four occasions are tabulated below:
| Team | Score | Overs | Vs | Ground | Date |
| RSA | 428/5 | 50 | SL | Delhi | 07-Oct-23 |
| AUS | 417/6 | 50 | AFG | Perth | 04-Mar-15 |
| IND | 413/5 | 50 | BER | Port of Spain | 19-Mar-07 |
| NZ | 401/6 | 50 | PAK | Bengaluru | 04-Nov-23 |
- It also provided the first occasion of New Zealand being inserted by the opposition in the World Cup. Hence, a record total for New Zealand. The previous best was 363 for five against Canada at Gros Islet on March 22, 2006.
- New Zealand posted a total of 401 for 6 in this game to provide the sixth occasion of a team posting 400-plus runs in an innings in the World Cup. This was the first occasion of New Zealand posting a total of 400-plus runs in the World Cup. Their previous best was 393 for six against the West Indies at Wellington on March 21, 2015.
- Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand scored 108 in this PAK vs NZ game to provide the 222nd occasion of a batter scoring a century in the World Cup. It also provided the 22nd occasion of a New Zealand batter scoring a century in the World Cup.
- Ravindra's knock provided the 115th occasion of an opening batter scoring a century in the World Cup. It also provided the 11th occasion of a New Zealand opener scoring a century in the World Cup.
- New Zealand captain Kane Williamson scored 95 in this game against Pakistan to provide the 72nd occasion of a batter scoring a ninety in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the fifth occasion of a New Zealand batter scoring a ninety in the World Cup.
- Williamson's knock provided the 11th occasion of a captain scoring a ninety in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the first occasion of a New Zealand captain scoring a ninety in the World Cup.
- Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson added 180 runs for the second wicket to provide the 344th occasion of batters posting a three-figure partnership in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the 36th occasion of New Zealand batters posting a three-figure partnership in the World Cup.
- Their stand provided the 80th occasion of batters posting a three-figure partnership in an innings in the World Cup for the second wicket. It also provided the seventh occasion of New Zealand batters posting a three-figure partnership in the World Cup for the second wicket.
- Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi returned with figures of none for 90 in this game to provide the 17th occasion of a bowler conceding 90-plus runs in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the third occasion of a bowler conceding 90-plus runs without taking a wicket in the World Cup.
- Afridi's figures in this PAK vs NZ match provided the first occasion of a Pakistan bowler conceding 90-plus runs in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the first occasion of a Pakistan bowler conceding 90-plus runs without taking a wicket in the World Cup. He thus became the most expensive Pakistan bowler – most runs conceded and most runs conceded without a wicket.
- Fakhar Zaman of Pakistan scored 125 against New Zealand to provide the 223rd occasion of a batter scoring a century in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the 19th occasion of a Pakistan batter scoring a century in the World Cup.
- Babar Azam of Pakistan scored 66 not out in this game to provide the 197th occasion of a captain scoring a fifty in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the 21st occasion of a Pakistan captain scoring a fifty in the World Cup.
- Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam added 194 runs in an unbroken partnership for the second wicket to provide the 345th occasion of batters posting a three-figure partnership in the World Cup. It's the 81st three-figure stand in the World Cup for the second wicket. For Pakistan, this marked the seventh three-figure and record stand for the second wicket in the World Cup. The previous best was the 167-run partnership between Ramiz Raja and Saleem Malik against England in Karachi on October 20, 1987.
- Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand scored 108 and Fakhar Zaman of Pakistan scored 126 not out in this game to provide the sixth occasion of rival opening batters scoring centuries in a match in the World Cup. This was the third occasion of rival number two batters scoring centuries in a match in the World Cup.
- Kane Williamson of New Zealand scored 95 and Babar Azam of Pakistan scored 66 not out in this game to provide the 19th occasion of rival captains scoring fifties in a match in the World Cup. This was the first occasion of rival captains batting at number three scoring fifties in a match in the World Cup.
- Rachin Ravindra's knock provided the 46th occasion of a batter's century going in vain in the World Cup. It also provided the sixth occasion of a New Zealand batter's century going in vain in the World Cup.
- His knock provided the 16th occasion of an opener's century going in vain in the World Cup. For New Zealand, this was the first occasion of an opener's century going in vain in the World Cup.
- Kane Williamson's 95 provided the fourth occasion of a captain’s ninety going in vain in the World Cup. It also provided the second occasion of a New Zealand captain’s ninety going in vain in the World Cup.
- New Zealand lost the match despite posting 401 for six to provide the first occasion of a team losing a game in the World Cup after posting 400-plus runs. This marked the third occasion of a team losing a game in One-Day Internationals after posting 400-plus runs.
Stats courtesy: HR Gopala Krishna – Veteran cricket statistician
