World Cup 2023: Fakhar Zaman steals limelight with superlative century as Pakistan have last laugh against New Zealand
World Cup 2023: Fakhar Zaman steals limelight with superlative century as Pakistan have last laugh against New Zealand
Another day, another Fakhar Zaman special. It was that kind of a day for Pakistan as they kept themselves alive in the 2023 ODI World Cup with a 21-run win (DLS method) over New Zealand in a rain-marred contest in Bengaluru on Saturday.
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Pakistan had to beat New Zealand to remain in the hunt for the World Cup semi-finals, and they did just that. But, it did not come without some hardships, as Rachin Ravindra’s (108) century had propelled New Zealand to 401/6 after being put into bat.
However, this was the Chinnaswamy Stadium we’re talking about, a venue that has produced both extremes as far as runs are concerned.
And on what was an overcast and rainy day in Bengaluru, it was raining sixes as Fakhar Zaman made most of the occasion to showcase what the Men in Green were missing so far.
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Superlative Fakhar Zaman
On Saturday, it was yet another superlative performance from Fakhar Zaman. It was not just because he had scored a century, but the way he approached the innings, knowing very well what he and his team had to do.
It was certainly not easy to begin a chase of 400-plus runs with immense pressure, but it is exactly that pressure that Fakhar handed very well.
Pakistan had lost Abdullah Shafique as early as the second over, but Zaman was well aware of the situation, and kept Pakistan’s run-rate in check with some aggression of his own.
Yes, New Zealand were always going to be a tough nut to crack for Pakistan, but nothing apart from bowling erroneous lines and lengths could stop them from winning.
It wasn’t the lines or lengths where New Zealand lost the game, however. It was Fakhar Zaman’s brilliance with the bat that was the major cause of New Zealand’s defeat, a defeat that has put a major question mark on the Kiwis’ chances of securing qualification for the World Cup semi-finals.
During his exhilarating knock, Fakhar Zaman would hardly put a wrong foot. He was impeccable with his shot timing and placement, so much so that he made chasing look easy.
Zaman kept landing blows on the Kiwi pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, both of whom looked somewhat off-colour and far from their best.
At the beginning of the fifth over, Boult unleashed a short ball to Fakhar, and the latter had probably read where the ball was coming, so he clobbered it over the midwicket fence. On this occasion, it was the length where Boult made his mistake, so the pacer then switched his length and bowled a fuller one on the pads to Fakhar, only for the Pakistan opener to dispatch it over fine leg with ease.
Southee, too, endured a similar outcome against Fakhar, after he went for a four and a six in the ninth over of the innings. In the fourth ball of the ninth over, Fakhar showcased his timing to perfection with a flick through the midwicket off Southee’s ball, as it raced away to the boundary.
Southee then tried a slower ball, but that only made Fakhar to play the slog before eventually initiating a one-handed hoick on the on-side for a six.
In the 12th over, there did come a time when things could have been slightly different. After Zaman had collected a quick but risky single off Mitchell Santner’s ball, Ish Sodhi was quick to receive the ball , but a direct hit towards the batters’ end would have ended the Pakistan captain’s stay at the crease.
However, that did not halt Pakistan’s momentum as the duo kept going. While Fakhar did most of the scoring with regular boundaries, Babar’s boundaries did not come as regularly as his partners;, but did so enough to frustrate the opposition bowlers.
Ish Sodhi at the receiving end
Someone who was at the receiving end of things was leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. This was just Sodhi’s first match of the 2023 World Cup, but was taken to the cleaners repeatedly by the Man of the Moment, Fakhar Zaman.
Sodhi hardly managed any change of pace throughout his bowling, and repeatedly delivered half-volleys that would enable Fakhar and Babar to go for the big shots. This happened once in the 23rd over, and twice in the 25th over.
It was, however, in that 25th over, which was even more disastrous for the Black Caps. Babar had read Sodhi’s googly accurately, and launched one over the bowlers’ head for six in the first ball of the over, only for the skipper to pass on that responsibility to Fakhar a couple of balls later.
In the third ball of the over, Fakhar launched over midwicket for another maximum, adding more pressure on Sodhi.
By now, Sodhi was clueless as to where to bowl next. Sodhi would then go onto bowl outside off stump, but Fakhar used his arms very well, extending them, to nail the slog sweep over the deep midwicket fence, thereby handing Sodhi a night to forget with the ball.
It’s safe to say, even the rain break did not help Sodhi to come back with full force and earn his team a proper breakthrough. This demolition by Fakhar and Babar was after play resumed, with Fakhar and Babar knowing very well that Pakistan had to chase down 342 from 41 overs. Pakistan were on the right track in the chase, and it was about them going that further mile, and playing with an aggressive mindset that helped the Men in Green remain ahead by 21 runs on DLS method, after rain stopped play again midway through the 26th over, with Pakistan’s score reading 200/1.
For New Zealand, among all the defeats, this would definitely hurt them the most. The Kiwis have lost four matches in a row, and a lot of questions, mostly on their bowling attack (Without the injured Matt Henry), will need to be answered.
Next up for New Zealand is a clash against Sri Lanka on 9 November. After four straight losses, the Kiwis need a win, and to do that, it is their bowlers who will need to step up, especially with Rachin Ravindra’s current form and Kane Williamson’s return.
Pakistan, meanwhile, must hope Afghanistan don’t catch-up and will be favourites when they take on an already-eliminated England on 11 November.
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