Bengaluru, Nov 4: In a must win battle, asked to bat first New Zealand were 382//5 in 48.1 overs against Pakistan in the 38th match of the ICC ODI Men's World Cup 2023 on Saturday.
After only the first power play (at the end of 10 overs), the Black Caps had already put on board 66 runs. But opener Devon Conway (35) after scoring almost run a ball, edged one to keeper Mohd Rizwan, who gleefully grabbed the opportunity. Pacer Hasan Ali drew first blood and Kiwis were 68/1 in 11.3 overs.
After Conway's departure, back in playing XI after one more injury-lay off, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson joined young batting sensation Rachin Ravindra in the middle.
Williamson, who usually takes time to get going, was on a different mood at Chinnaswamy Stadium, here on Saturday. The Black Caps captain perhaps had the semi-finals berth in mind.
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Williamson scored a rapid 95 in just 79 balls. But he missed a chance to score a ton, as he departed being caught by Fakhar Zaman of part-time off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed.
After scoring yet another century in his debut World Cup, Ravindra was out to Mohammad Wasim with Saud Shakeel taking a well judged catch inside the boundary. He made 108 in 94 balls, with 15 hits to the fence and a huge six.
Then, it was Daryll Mitchell, who while trying to accelerate was clean bowled by pacer Haris Rauf, after putting on board 29 runs in 18 balls. The Kiwis were superbly places at 318/4 in 41.4 overs.
Mark Chapman, who hardly got to bat in the batting-heavy New Zealand side in this World Cup, proved his mettle with an aggressive 39 in 27 balls. But he was bowled by Mohd Wasim, while trying to improvise.
