NZ VS PAK MATCH 35

Right then, that is it from this absolute run-fest where Pakistan have performed brilliantly to get the win while the Kiwis need to buckle up and come back harder in the next one. The action in the World Cup continues and all eyes are now on the top-of-the-table clash between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata that too on Virat Kohli's birthday. That hugely anticipated game will be played on 5th November, Sunday at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT), but as you know, you all can join us early for all the build-up to that match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

The victorious skipper of Pakistan, Babar Azam says that when they went into the dressing room, the talk was that they need one good partnership. Shares that they knew rain would come and therefore, he had asked Fakhar Zaman to stay there till 15 overs. Mentions that his plan was to build a partnership and try to give the strike back to Zaman. Adds that there was a short boundary on one side and they wanted to utilise it. Feels that they have not been up to the mark in a few matches. Ends by saying that they need to win the next match and play positive cricket.

Kane Williamson, the captain of New Zealand says they had a nice first half, he praises the way Conway and Rachin started batting and the partnership between them was exceptional, but he also added that the opposition's batting outplayed his team, praising how incredible Fakhar and Babar played in their innings. He also added that if they would score 50 runs more then things might have gone either way. He seems really happy with the batting unit but if they could get a few wickets things would have changed for them.

Fakhar Zaman is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stellar ton. He says that his plan was to see off the last four overs and he is thankful that it was his day. Mentions that it really enjoyed his innings. Shares that since every game is do or die for them, it was decided that they would play aggressively. States he would rate his 193 in South Africa as the best but says that this is one of his best hundreds. Tells that they were praying for the play to resume and he is thankful that they won due to the DLS method.

Presentation Time...

Earlier in the game, after being asked to bat first, New Zealand posted their highest-ever World Cup total courtesy of another sublime hundred from Rachin Ravindra and a rollicking 95 from skipper Kane Williamson. There were also some good contributions from Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner which helped them reach that huge score. Mohammad Wasim was the best bowler for Pakistan with three wickets while Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, and Haris Rauf chipped in with one each but were expensive while Shaheen Afridi set an unwanted record of conceding the most runs by a Pakistani bowler in a World Cup match. The Men in Green knew that they had to go all guns blazing and Fakhar Zaman did exactly that right from the start and with good support from Babar Azam and some help from the rain in Bangalore, the registered a sensational win.

New Zealand, on the other hand, even though got an early breakthrough from Tim Southee but failed to create any more chances and were punished by the batters. Nothing worked for them as they had no answers to the exceptional batting of Fakhar Zaman who spared absolutely no one. Kane Williamson tried to rotate his bowlers to do something different but the game only went away from them. Then there was the rain stoppage and they hoped that this would be the break that they needed but after the resumption, Ish Sodhi was given the 25th over where 20 runs were scored which proved to be the point of difference as the rain showed no mercy on the Kiwis. This will hurt a lot but they still have things in their own hands and will look to come back stronger against Sri Lanka in their last league game.

Despite losing Abdullah Shafique early on, Pakistan got off to an absolute flier with Fakhar Zaman smashing it all around the park and Babar Azam playing second fiddle to him. They knew that they couldn't slow down, so firstly Zaman attacked Trent Boult and then took the spinners to the cleaners hitting sixes for fun. The runs were flowing from his bat and in no time he registered a sensational hundred which is also the fastest by any Pakistani batter in World Cup history. It is also the fourth century he has scored against the Kiwis this year which says everything about his batting. With Babar also getting into his groove, they were able to remain in check with the required rate and when the rain came in the 22nd over, they were ahead by 10 runs. We could get only 3.3 overs after that break before the rain came back on and no further play was possible but Pakistan wasted no time and scored at the same rate in those overs and kept them ahead on DLS which in the end got them the crucial two points.

PAKISTAN ARE STILL ALIVE IN THE WORLD CUP! It is official and this match has been called off. We can say that the rain gods have helped the Men in Green a bit but it was really their exceptional batting especially from Fakhar Zaman that put them in this position and ultimately they win by 21 runs on DLS method. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman added 194 runs for the second wicket which is the joint-highest partnership for Pakistan in a World Cup game, and this came when they needed it the most.

UPDATE - 7.03 pm IST (1.33 pm GMT) - It continues to rain at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru! The chances of a resumption are looking grim at the moment. The cut-off time is 7.40 pm IST (2.10 pm GMT), and if no further play is possible, Pakistan will win this encounter by the DLS method and by doing so, keep their qualification hopes alive. We will keep you posted.

UPDATE - 6.38 pm IST (1.08 pm GMT) - Oh, no! The drizzle has gotten heavier and the umpires have asked the ground staff to bring the covers on. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam are more than happy to walk off but the New Zealand players want to stay on. Pakistan are 21 runs ahead of the DLS par score at the moment. Since we had started to lose overs during the earlier rain interruption, we will continue to lose overs. Stay tuned for more updates.

Back of a length and outside off, slower again, Babar Azam cuts it straight to point.

A slower delivery, on a length and on off, Fakhar Zaman taps it wide of point for a single. 200 up for Pakistan!

Daryl Mitchell begins with a bouncer around off, Fakhar Zaman sways away from it.

Daryl Mitchell comes into the attack now, replacing Trent Boult. It has started to drizzle but it is not concerning enough yet for the umpires to take the players off.

Another short delivery, outside off, Fakhar Zaman this time cuts it past point for one. 20 runs off the over!

Pushed through quicker, short and outside off, Fakhar Zaman cuts it straight to point.

SIX! Back-to-back sixes! Ish Sodhi gives this one some air again, full, and on off, Fakhar Zaman once again goes down on one knee and drags it from there to deposit over the wide long on fence for an even bigger maximum.