Match Introduction:
Saturday, November 4th, 2023, a very important match of the 2023 World Cup between New Zealand vs Pakistan was played at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, in which Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bowl.
The playing elevens for both teams are as follows.
Pakistan Playing 11 vs New Zealand – ICC World Cup 2023, Match 35
- Abdullah Shafique
- Fakhar Zaman
- Babar Azam (C)
- Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
- Saud Shakeel
- Iftikhar Ahmed
- Agha Salman
- Usama Mir
- Mohammad Wasim Jr
- Haris Rauf
- Shaheen Afridi
New Zealand Playing 11 vs Pakistan – ICC World Cup 2023, Match 35:
- Devon Conway
- Rachin Ravindra
- Kane Williamson(c)
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Latham(w)
- Glenn Phillips
- Mark Chapman
- Mitchell Santner
- Ish Sodhi
- Tim Southee
- Trent Boult
New Zealand vs Pakistan First Innings: Batting Brilliance and Bowling Mastery
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra came in to open and made a splendid start, putting pressure on the Pakistani team right from the beginning. He scored 35 runs off 39 balls before getting caught by Rizwan on Hassan Ali’s delivery.
However, when Kane Williamson joined Ravindra, their partnership showcased remarkable batting, and the Pakistani bowlers seemed ineffective; wickets were hard to come by. Rachin Ravindra played a phenomenal century, including 15 fours and a six, proving his consistency and marking his third century in the World Cup. He’s becoming an essential player for the team.
In addition, the captain played an outstanding inning, scoring 95 runs off 79 balls, including 2 excellent sixes and 10 brilliant fours. Following that, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, and Mitchell Santner contributed well, taking the team’s total to 401, which was an excellent target.
When it comes to Pakistan’s bowling, once again, very poor bowling was witnessed. Mohammad Wasim bowled well and provided some relief to the team; otherwise, the score could have reached 450. Wasim took 3 wickets, conceding 60 runs in his spell of 10 overs.
However, the other bowlers were hit hard. Shaheen conceded 90 runs, Haris Rauf 85 runs, and Hassan Ali 82 runs. Additionally, Iftikhar gave away 55 runs in 8 overs, while Salman Ali Agha conceded 21 runs in his 2 overs. Pakistan’s bowling remained poor today.
New Zealand vs Pakistan Second Innings: The Chase Begins
When Pakistan came to chase, there was a huge target on the board, and the Pakistani team was under immense pressure right from the start. Abdullah Shafiq and Fakhar Zaman opened for Pakistan.
Abdullah couldn’t handle the pressure and got out after scoring just 6 runs. Then Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, came in to join Fakhar. Fakhar played exceptionally well, putting the New Zealand bowlers under pressure. The match was interrupted twice due to rain, and the DLS method was to be used to calculate the score.
However, Fakhar was not ready to stop today. He played an incredible inning, scoring 126 runs off 81 balls, which included 11 stylish and long sixes along with 8 fantastic fours. Fakhar single-handedly dominated the match.
Fakhar’s outstanding performance was complemented by Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, who played remarkably well, scoring 66 runs off 63 balls, including outstanding sixes and fours.
The match stopped twice, once with Pakistan 10 runs ahead according to the DLS method, and the second time with a 21-run lead due to rain. This is why Pakistan won by 21 runs. Fakhar’s outstanding innings has once again created a chance for Pakistan to reach the semi-finals.
New Zealand vs Pakistan Key Performances: Stars of the Match
Star of the match, the one and only Fakhar Zaman, who kept the entire New Zealand team under pressure throughout the innings and played an exceptional game with amazing sixes and superb fours.
Fakhar completely turned the game around, never letting the run rate drop at any point. He was in constant touch with the dressing room for the score updates and played accordingly. Once again, Fakhar proved that he’s a big player for big matches. Very well played, Fakhar Zaman, pride of Pakistan.
Game-Changing Moments
The entire inning by Fakhar was indeed game-changing, but just before the match was stopped, that over in which Ish Sodhi was hit for 3 sixes was the game-changing moment. Following those two sixes by Fakhar and one by Babar, the rain started and didn’t stop, making that the pivotal point in the game.
Tactical Insights
The way Fakhar Zaman batted with such intent was remarkable. It was this approach that could have led to winning the match; otherwise, winning was very difficult. Fakhar showed his class in both matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand, taking responsibility and securing 4 crucial points for the Pakistan team, elevating their chances for the semi-finals. Exceptional batting display by Fakhar Zaman.
Fan Reactions and Social Buzz
Fakhar’s splendid innings received praise from all around the world, with social media and ex-players acknowledging his remarkable performance. Fans from all corners of the world expressed an outstanding response. There was immense love even coming from India. Fakhar was being celebrated everywhere, making it a memorable day that will be remembered for a long time.
