Pakistan hands New Zealand fourth successive loss to keep semifinals hopes alive

BENGALURU, India, Nov 4, (AP): Fakhar Zaman bludgeoned a 63-ball century as Pakistan handed New Zealand their fourth successive loss after a rain-hit Cricket World Cup game on Saturday decided by the DLS method.

Zaman’s unbeaten 126 off 71 balls motored Pakistan to 200-1 in 25.3 overs, 21 runs ahead on DLS, after there had been two rain interruptions in a high-scoring match.
New Zealand’s star of the tournament, Rachin Ravindra (108), had earlier smashed his third century in the competition, while Kane Williamson (95) missed out on a hundred on his return as his side amassed 401-6 after being put in to bat.

The win lifted Pakistan level on eight points with New Zealand, which occupy fourth place in the standings by virtue of a better net run-rate than Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistan, which also lost four games in a row at one stage, could sneak into the semifinals with their last league game scheduled against England on Nov. 11.

New Zealand began the tournament with four consecutive wins against England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the Netherlands, but have now lost to India, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan.
The Black Caps need to beat Sri Lanka in their last league game and hope Pakistan lose to England, or cannot come close to their net run-rate.

Zaman’s power-hitting kept his side in the hunt in a steep run chase before rain took the players off the field with Pakistan cruising on 160-1 in 21.3 overs, ahead by 10 runs on DLS.
Captain Babar Azam (66 not out) played second fiddle to Zaman, who smashed 11 sixes against pace and spin as the pair stretched their match-winning stand to 194 before the rain returned.

Zaman was ruthless against leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, playing his first game of the tournament. He and Babar plundered three sixes in Sodhi’s penultimate over.