In a scintillating World Cup warm-up match that unfolded on Friday, New Zealand orchestrated a remarkable comeback to chase down a formidable target of 346, defeating Pakistan by five wickets. Rachin Ravindra and the returning Kane Williamson emerged as the heroes of the day, showcasing their masterful skills at the crease.
Facing a challenging pursuit of 346 runs, New Zealand had an early setback, losing a wicket. However, the duo of Ravindra, who contributed a stellar 97 runs, and Williamson, who displayed his class with 54 runs, shared a pivotal partnership of 137 runs that set their team on a triumphant course. Remarkably, New Zealand achieved the target with a commanding 6.2 overs to spare, exhibiting their batting prowess in the city of Hyderabad.
For Pakistan, Mohammed Rizwan stood out with a magnificent century, amassing 103 runs, while Babar Azam contributed an impressive 80 runs. Pakistan posted a challenging total of 345-5 after opting to bat first. However, the Kiwi batsmen made this formidable total appear quite manageable, even in the absence of their pace spearhead, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Kane Williamson, making a comeback after a six-month hiatus due to a knee injury, batted brilliantly during his 50-ball stay at the crease before retiring out. Speaking about his knee, he expressed satisfaction with its performance after the match, mentioning a bit of icing as part of his recovery process.
Rachin Ravindra’s explosive batting display left the opposition bowlers in disarray, as he pummeled them to all corners of the ground, amassing an impressive 16 fours and a towering six. Agha Salman denied him a well-deserved century. Despite a brief scare when Pakistan spinner Usama Mir claimed two quick wickets, Daryl Mitchell’s composed 59-run contribution ensured New Zealand stayed on track.
The left-handed duo of Mark Chapman, who played a match-winning unbeaten inning of 65 runs, and James Neesham, who added 33 runs, forged a crucial partnership of 68 runs, steering New Zealand to victory in 43.4 overs.
Babar Azam’s elegant stroke play, featuring eight fours and two towering sixes, came to an end when he fell to Mitchell Santner. Meanwhile, Rizwan continued his stellar performance, eventually reaching the coveted century milestone. He struck nine boundaries and two sixes during his 94-ball innings, expressing his pride and satisfaction with his achievement.
Notably, this match, along with other warm-up games, did not carry official one-day international status and was played in an empty stadium due to a Hindu festival and security concerns in Hyderabad.
Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the upcoming mega tournament was recently unveiled, with the inclusion of bowler Hasan Ali and the notable absence of star pacer Naseem Shah, who is recovering from injury sustained during the Asia Cup. Other omissions from the squad include bowlers Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Hasnain.
Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imamul Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim, Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir.
Reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan.
By AFP
