New Zealand vs Pakistan Highlights, World Cup 2023: Pakistan beat New Zealand by 21 runs (DLS) to keep semis hopes alive

Pakistan endured a battering by New Zealand's top-order before launching their own onslaught through centurion Fakhar Zaman to win a rain-hit World Cup game by 21 runs via the DLS method on Saturday and stay alive in the hunt for a semi-final spot. The fourth straight defeat for the Kiwis meant that South Africa became the second team after India to qualify for the semis. Pakistan, New Zealand and Afghanistan now have eight points each and remain in contention for semi-final spots alongside Australia.

The defeat for New Zealand today means that South Africa are now through to the semis as well. They necome second team after India to secure the spot in last-four. Only two spots are now up for grabs as the race for semis gets tighter.

That's it! What was feared has happened, eventually. Rain plays spoilsport Bengaluru. What could have been a thriller of a chase from Pakistan against New Zealand turns out to be a damp squib. Pakistan have been declared winners in this contest. Babar Azam and co. beat New Zealand by 21 run (DLS) to remain alive in the semis race of the 2023 ODI World Cup. With the win, Pakistan have now moved to the fifth spot in the standings. For New Zealand, despite scoring 401, they finish on the losing side. Fourth straight defeat for the Kiwis and this one will hurt them the most. They however remain at the fourth spot in the standings. But they now have Pakistan and Afghanistan closely following them with all three teams at 8 points each, separated only by NRR.

Pakistan have strengthened their position even further in this contest. They are now 21 runs ahead of the DLS par score. If there is no further action in Bengaluru, Pakistan will win the match and move to the fifth spot in the standings and also keep their semis hopes alive.

Pakistan were supposed to be 179 at this stage but they have scored 200 for the loss of 1 wicket in 25.3 overs. The drizzle is steady and looks like we are in for another decent delay.

Just three balls into the Daryl Mitchell first over and the heavens have opened up again. The players are walking off the field as the covers arrive to the middle. PAK 200/1 in 25.3 overs

SIX! A monstrous strike from Fakhar Zaman and the Pakistan opener is looking unstoppable at the moment. Ish Sodhi bowls right in the arc of Zaman as he slams the ball over the deep fence for an 88-metre mazimum.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 191/1 in 24.3 overs

FOUR! Trent Boult errs in line and bowls an over-cooked delivery into the pads. Fakhar Zaman drills it to the deep mid-wicket fence for his 17th boundary. Zaman is playing a sensational knock here at the Chinnaswamy.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 177/1 in 23.3 overs

FOUR! FOUR! Babar Azam gets going after the break with back-to-back boundaries off Ish Sodhi. Raises his 32nd ODI fifty off 52 balls. A pull to deep square followed by a cracking drive through a packed off-side field. Babar looking good touch. The skipper has got to up the ante now for his side in this steep chase.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 168/1 in 22.2 overs

Trent Boult starts off the proceedings for Kiwis with three dot balls to Fakhar Zaman and completes his 1-run over. Ish Sodhi to share the new ball with him from the other end.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 160/1 in 22 overs

Ton-up Fakhar Zaman (106*) and skipper Babar Azam (47*) are back in the middle to resume Pakistan's revised 342 chase (41 overs) in Bengaluru after rain delay. Trent Boult to complete his unfinished over. Here we go again!

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 160/1 in 21.3 overs, need another 182 more from 19.3 overs

New Zealand players are in the middle warming-up. We should have a start soon now.

Pakistan ahead of DLS score at the moment. 10 more minutes (5:40 pm IST) before we start losing overs in this contest.

Three balls into the Trent Boult over and rain has arrived again and stopped play in Bengaluru. The Kiwi bowlers will be relieved as they were being hammered by Fakhar Zaman. The covers have arrived to the middle and the pitch is being covered. Pakistan 160/1 in 21.3 overs in 402-run chase

What an outstanding effort this has been from the Pakistan opener. Fakhar Zaman fires the fastest World Cup ton by a Pakistan batter. Slams his 11th ODI ton off just 63 balls to keep Pakistan in the hunt in this daunting 402 chase. 6 fours and 9 gigantic sixes in his knock so far and it has come at a staggering strike rate of over 158. But Pakistan still have miles to go in this massive chase. Zaman has got to keep firing and try and take Pakistan as close as possible.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 145/1 in 19.2 overs

SIX! Fakhar Zaman looking absolutely unstoppable at the moment. He slams his 8th maximum of the chase. Tim Southee comes back into the attack and bowls a length ball outside off. Zaman effortlessly creams it over the wide long-off fence to move to 91.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 133/1 in 18.1 overs

SIX! Another colossal strike from Fakhar Zaman as he this time, fires an 85-metre maximum off Glenn Phillips. The ball sails into the second tier in the deep stands.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 117/1 in 16.3 overs

SIX! SIX! Fakhar Zaman in carnage mode as boundaries are flowing for Pakistan in this massive chase. Fakhar smacks Glenn Phillips for back-to-back sixes down the ground as 100 comes up for Pakistan inside 15 overs!

What a knock this has been from Fakhar Zaman. Gets to his 17th ODI fifty off just 39 balls with the help of 4 fours and equal number of sixes. Gets to his half-century with a lovely cut behind point off Ish Sodhi. His innings has been a treat to watch! But Pakistan will need a big one from the opener if they are to come closer to this steep Kiwi total of 401.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 88/1 in 13.3 overs

Just runs scored in the last three overs as spinners Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner keep in tight against Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam. The required rate has now crept up to 8.62 RPO. Pressure building on Pakistan as they need at least one boundary every over. Ish Sodhi now comes into the attack for the Kiwis.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 83/1 in 13 overs

Fakhar Zaman 43*
Babar Azam 25*
Partnership: 69*(48)
Tim Southee 1/16

Pakistan need another 327 runs off 240 balls @ 8.18 RPO

FOUR! SIX! Fakhar Zaman now goes after Tim Southee in his comeback over. Zaman has quickly got to 36 off 25 balls. A flick for four to the deep mid-wicket fence followed by a one-handed maximum over deep square-leg. Zaman looking pretty threatening at the moment.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 67/1 in 8.5 overs

SIX! Launched! A drag down from Mitchell Santner and Babar Azam read the length of the ball early. Smokes it over the deep fence with ease for his first maximum. 50 also came up for Pakistan with that cracking strike from the skipper.

SIX! Fakhar Zaman middling the ball beautifully at the moment. Starts off Trent Boult's fourth over with a cracking hit to the deep fence. Boult bowls in the arc of Zaman as the left-hander flat-bats it to the mid-wicket fence for his second maximum.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 38/1 in 6.1 overs

FOUR! SIX! Fakhar Zaman gets going after a quiet start. Starts off Trent Boult's third over with back-to-back boundaries on the on-side. A four followed by a maximum, both the boundaries hit in the deep mid-wicket region.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 22/1 in 4.2 overs

Kiwi pacers put early pressure on Pakistan in this massive 402 chase. After the fall of Abdullah Shafique in the second over, both Trent Boult and Tim South have bowled a couple of tight overs. After a 2-run over from Southee, Boult to continue from the other end.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 12/1 in 4 overs

OUT! Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson has taken a blinder as Pakistan suffer early blow in this massive 402 chase. What an effort from Williamson. Tim Southee grabs his first wicket off the final ball of his first over. A full and wide delivery outside off from Southee and Abdullah Shafique went for uppish drive over mid-on. Mistimes as Williamson runs backwards and pulls off a superb catch.

New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - PAK 6/1 in 2 overs

Abdullah Shafique gets Pakistan underway with a whip to mid-wicket for FOUR. New Zealand vs Pakistan Live Score - Pak 5/0 in 1 over.

Pakistan would be ruing their decision to bowl first, as Rachin Ravindra smoked his third century of the tournament (108 off 94) and added 180 runs for the second wicket with Kane Williamson (95 off 79 balls), who came back from injury to lead NZ for his first match in this World Cup. That laid the foundation for the likes of Mark Chapman (39 off 27), Daryl Mitchell (29 off 18), Glenn Phillips (41 off 25), and Mitchell Santner (26* off 17) to use the long handle and take the total past the 400-run mark. The damage NZ batters did reflects in Pakistan's bowling figures, with Md Wasim's spell of 3/60 being the exception. Shaheen Afridi's 0/90 is now the worst figures for a Pakistan bowler in a World Cup match, while Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali gave away over 80 runs in their respective spells.