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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
James Wallace and Rob Smyth

Pakistan beat New Zealand on DLS at Cricket World Cup – as it happened

Pakistan New Zealand World Cup Hardik Pandya
Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman hits a boundary on his way to an incredible 126 off only 81 balls.
Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman hits a boundary on his way to an incredible 126 off only 81 balls. Photograph: Aijaz Rahi/AP

Pakistan endured a battering by New Zealand’s top order before launching their own onslaught through the centurion Fakhar Zaman to win a rain-hit World Cup game by 21 runs via the DLS method and stay alive in the hunt for a semi-final spot.

That’s it from us on this OBO today, ta to Rob for getting up with the lark for the early stint and thanks for tuning in. The 2023 World Cup rumbles on for another week… You can catch England and Australia slugging it out right now with the marvellous Tanya currently on the OBO tools.

We’ll then be back for the tournament’s top two sides going toe-to toe tomorrow (try saying that ten times quickly) loins well and truly girded for India v South Africa at Eden Gardens. Have a nice afternoon, ta-ra.

Here’s (a beaming) Babar Azam:

When we started batting, we believed. Inside the dressing room we said that we needed one good partnership. In the back of our minds we knew that rain was coming, but didn’t expect it to be too much. To be honest, we just planned to build a partnership. I wanted to give strike to Fakhar! We knew we had short boundaries and tried to utilise that. In some matches we’ve not been up to the mark, if we win our next match, let’s see... we will try to play positively and we are taking it match by match.”

Kane Williamson speaks:

It’s quite hard to get our heads around (the result) after getting that total, for us we will take the positives before the next game. Pakistan played exceptionally well, gave themselves every chance and got over the line, they were certainly on target with their chase.

“Fakhar Zaman played beautifully, they deserved that result today and for us it’s about moving on to our next challenge. We had a lot of really good partnerships, it was clearly a very good surface and that can be tough on the bowlers. Rachin batted absolutely beautifully and we hope that continues! There are some really good signs from the unit, maybe if we got a few wickets things could have changed quickly.”

Here is that points table as things stand:

Blows my mind/gives me heavy boots that England can somehow technically still qualify for the semis. They are the 2023 Cricket World Cup equivalent of this guy:

*Not for the sqeamish*

Updated

Fakhar Zaman is the player of the match. Thoughts and prayers to Rachin Ravindra who scored his third century of the tournament and to New Zealand’s players in general as they posted over 400 runs but still lost.

Fakhar’s knock really gave the Kiwis the willies, it was an amazing innings made all the more impressive considering he’s only just been drafted into the starting XI. He boshed 126* peppering the boundaries and the stands with eight fours and a nosebleed inducing eleven sixes. Trent Boult was very expensive with the ball at the start of the Pakistan innings and as soon as the spin of Santner, Sodhi and Phillips was called for it was carnage out in the middle, Fakhar clearing the front leg and repeatedly smearing the ball high and long into the Bengalaru night.

Fakhar speaks:

We planned to see off first few overs, I got lucky a few times but really enjoyed this innings. We know that every game is do or die for us. In our team meetings it was decided that we will play aggressively, we are playing with that mind and everybody was trying to score more runs.

“This is one of my best centuries, I will always remember my 193 against South Africa but this is one of my best. We want to continue playing aggressively in our next game.

Updated

Match Abandoned - Pakistan win by 21 runs

The umpires call time in Bengalaru with the rain coming down hard and steady. The players have shaken hands and both sides now sit on eight points!

Still raining in Bengalaru. If that is the case in 40 minutes time then the match will be called for Pakistan.

“This equation doesn’t seem to take into account that they’re chasing 400! One more wicket and they’re cooked.” Says Cole Hunter in the OBO mailbag.

“The DLS allows the chasing team to alter their game to suit the conditions and the bowling team are expected to just ride the wave. Tough but fair...”

True enough Cole, DLS can sometimes make life simpler for the batting side, remember South Africa needing 21 off one ball at Sydney in 1992 though? That was a preeety big ask.

Rain Stops Play (Again)

No! The light drizzle falling for the last over or so got a bit heavier and the umpires signalled for the covers half way through Daryll Mitchell’s first and New Zealand’s 26th over.

Pakistan are now 21 runs ahead on DLS and the overs will start to dissolve with every minute that the players are off the park, that will only serve to benefit the team in green.

A bird of prey flies over the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as it rains during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup one-day international match between New Zealand and Pakistan in Bengaluru.
As they say, good weather for ducks … and birds of prey. Photograph: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

25th over: Pakistan 199-1 (Zaman 125, Babar 66) Sodhi is launched for six into the stands by Babar Azam, the batter read the googly and murdered it. A single brings Fakhar onto strike. SIX! Fakhar drops to one knee and slogs a monsterous sweep over the leg side boundary. SIX MORE! Same shot and this one even bigger! The sound off the bat echoing around the M Chinaswammy Stadium like a canon shot. Twenty runs off the over, Pakistan flying.

24th over: Pakistan 179-1 (Zaman 112, Babar 59) Boult strays onto Fakhar’s pads and is clipped away for four through midwicket. Boult has been uncharacteristically poor today and has the face of someone in a real huff. His face in a permanent scowl, ‘looking like his top lip has gone bad’ as my old man is wont to say. Seven runs off the over.

23rd over: Pakistan 172-1 (Zaman 107, Babar 57) Ish Sodhi from the other end, he starts with a poor ball – a long-hop that is pounced on by Babar and steered for four to bring up his half century, barely a tilt of the bat. Pakistan’s captain knows there is work to do. Beautiful from Babar! The next ball is flighted and he drives it languidly for four through the covers, holding the pose for good measure. Twelve runs off the over in total, New Zealand need wickets pronto.

22nd over: Pakistan 159-1 (Zaman 106, Babar 47) Here come the players, Trent Boult has three balls left in his fifth over and he starts with… three dots. The rate rises with every one but Pakistan won’t mind this re-adjusted target.

Updated

Righto, the numbers have been crunched in Bengalaru:

Nine overs have been lost to the rain so it will be a 41-over chase.

The target for Pakistan is 342. They need 182 runs from 19.3 overs and have nine wickets in hand.

Game on!

Updated

In Ahmedabad, Australia have set England a target of 287 runs.

I’m not sure Jos Buttler’s eyes can get more sad but if his side fail to get the runs then England will need to win both of their remaining games to have a chance of qualifying for the next Champions Trophy in 2025.

It’s basically all heading towards the Dutch beating England on Wednesday eh? I can taste it already. Orange Crush.

Collar me, don’t collar me.

Updated

There will be an inspection at 6pm local time in Bengalaru, about ten mins from now. The covers are coming off. Exciting.

It lives. It breathes. It walks around. Although, it should be said, with a limp, and a wheeze, and a telling sense of glassiness behind the eyes…

No England team has ever lost so many games at a World Cup. No England team has ever reached the stage of outright tournament bottom-feeders. No England team has ever made the startling nosedive from 50-over champions to one of the worst iterations at any World Cup – and better still done so without any obvious process, warning signs, change of approach, or indeed the slightest clue as to how this could have happened.”

Barney is in Ahmedabad and seemingly in fine fettle for the death knell:

I’m hearing the rain has ceased in Bengalaru, an inspection is imminent. Will bring you news as soon as we get it.

Meanwhile – I’ll forgive you for diving over onto the England v Australia OBO with the excellent pairing of Jonathan and Tanya.

The covers are still on in Bengalaru and the rain is falling lightly.

Sun peeping out here in south London though.

Permutations chat: If New Zealand beat Pakistan today (big if at the moment) then England are categorically OUT. It doesn’t matter if they beat Australia. It’s curtains for Buttler and his men, finally. The sweet release of death.

If Pakistan win then England are somehow still IN if they beat Australia. If Australia beat England then it is curtains for them whatever happens elsewhere.

Got it? Clear as custard.

RAIN STOPS PLAY.

Gah. The covers are hauled on as a shower passes over the ground in Bengalaru. There looks to be a stiff breeze so hopefully it beggars off soon and we can get back to this fascinating match.

Pakistan are 160-1 off 21.3 overs – Righto, let me get my DLS on… yep Pakistan are ahead of the rate by ten runs. DLS is showing the par score to be 150-1.

The break will be welcome to New Zealand though, they can re-gather and lick their wounds. The big question for Pakistan if they get back out there is whether Fakhar can simply pick up where he left off. It’s an intriguing situation however you splice it.

Updated

21st over: Pakistan 159-1 (Zaman 106, Babar 47) Seven runs off Glenn Phillips’ over, Fakhar sweeps him for four behind square, he needs to gather and go on here for his side, ten more overs of him in this mood and this game could turn into an absolute epic.

Updated

20th over: Pakistan 152-1 (Zaman 101, Babar 44) Shot! A humongous smear into the leg side takes Fakhar to 99… he’s gone into full Ben Stokes BEAST mode here… and that is a HUNDRED FOR FAKHAR ZAMAN!

Off just 64 balls. What a knock! He peels off his helmet, kneels and kisses the pitch. Fantastic scenes. Fakhar is giving Pakistan hope in this World Cup.

19th over: Pakistan 138-1 (Zaman 93, Babar 38) First ball back after drinks and it is a SIX scythed by Fakhar over cover and into the Pakistan dugout! Eleven runs off the over in total – Babar nudging and nurdling and Fakhar going ballistic, he’s into the nineties…

18th over: Pakistan 127-1 (Zaman 85, Babar 35) Cat and mouse stuff between Santner and Fakhar, the spinner wins the over as just two runs are taken off it. Fakhar is itching to smear him away for boundaries but Santner mixes up his length and flight masterfully. Time for a drink – apparently Pakistan are two runs behind where they need to be (129-1) if they were to go off for rain now. I’ll keep a peeper on those clouds and those sums.

17th over: Pakistan 125-1 (Zaman 84, Babar 34) Cripes. Fakhar is on fire with the bat in hand – a huge swipe goes for SIX into the stands over the leg side and back to back fours make it fifteen off the over. Black clouds are building in the skies over over Bengalaru, hmmm I wonder if Pakistan have done their Duckworth Lewis/Stern sums…

16th over: Pakistan 110-1 (Zaman 70, Babar 33) Babar Azam is becalmed, he’s on 33 off 37 balls and is putting a lot of pressure on his partner. Just four singles off Sodhi’s over, something’s gotta/gonna give.

15th over: Pakistan 106-1 (Zaman 68, Babar 31) Carnage! Fakhar Zaman smokes Glenn Phillips for back to back sixes over long on! The second of which was HUUUGE! Fakhar has now hit thirteen sixes in this World Cup and is cutting loose in Bengalaru.

14th over: Pakistan 91-1 (Zaman 54, Babar 30) Ish Sodhi into the attack for New Zealand, Zaman rocks back and glides him for four down to third. Elegance and touch to go with his brute force. Eight off the over and 50 up for Fakhar Zaman, he’s up for this.

Updated

13th over: Pakistan 83-1 (Zaman 47, Babar 29) Five off Glenn Phillips’ second over. Ones and twos don’t quite cut the mustard for Pakistan, Babar is a bit becalmed.

12th over: Pakistan 77-1 (Zaman 43, Babar 25) New Zealand putting on a mini-squeeze here, just three runs off Santner’s over sees the run-rate worm start to rear…

A word on Rachin Ravindra – how good has he been in this tournament? If truth be told it hasn’t been a classic World Cup (so far) but Ravindra’s emergence has been a revelation.

11th over: Pakistan 75-1 (Zaman 43, Babar 25) Glenn Phillips into the attack and Zaman can’t get him off the square. Phillips stitches together a maiden – Andy Zaltzman on TMS chirps up to say that is Phillips’ first ever maiden in ODI cricket. So there you go.

10th over: Pakistan 75-1 (Zaman 43, Babar 25) Another SIX to Fakhar Zaman! He shimmies down the pitch and lofts Santner down the ground for a maximum. Eight off the over, 4o more overs like the first ten and Pakistan are home and dry.

9th over: Pakistan 67-1 (Zaman 36, Babar 24) Southee replaces the smited Boult and returns from t’other end. Fakhar whips him through midwicket to pick up four and then clears the front leg to hoick away…up…up and SIX! Just out of reach of the fielder on the boundary. Eleven off the over, Pakistan are ticking.

8th over: Pakistan 56-1 (Zaman 26, Babar 23) Here comes Mitch Santner with his box of tweakers. Two dots to start and then Fakhar nudges to leg to bring Babar on strike. Bosh! Santner drops short and is smeared high and long over cow corner for SIX by Babar. Eight off the over in total, this pair have rocketed to a fifty partnership and Pakistan are up with the run rate.

7th over: Pakistan 48-1 (Zaman 25, Babar 16) Trent Boult has gone for 42 runs off his four overs, I’m pretty sure this is the worst/most expensive opening spell of his ODI career. More on that as we get it.

Fakhar slots his first ball over long-on for SIX! Boult is well out of sorts here, he spears a ball way down leg for a wide. Babar gets a thick edge through the vacant slip region to pick up four and then punches on the front foot to score a boundary off the last ball. Cripes, Trent.

6th over: Pakistan 32-1 (Zaman 18, Babar 8) Three runs off Southee’s over as things calm down a little.

Cockle warmer:

5th over: Pakistan 29-1 (Zaman 17, Babar 7) Now then, SEVENTEEN runs clubbed off Trent Boult’s over as Fakhar opens his shoulders. Boult drops short and is biffed through leg before going too full with the next ball which Fakhar slots behind square for SIX! Audacious shot. A single brings Babar on strike – he picks up a brace through midwicket and then hooks the final ball for four! Boult grimaces and lopes off to lick his wounds.

Updated

4th over: Pakistan 12-1 (Zaman 6, Babar 1) A watchful over from Babar and Fakhar, Southee mixes things up with slower balls and cutters. Babar gets off the mark with a clip into the off side and just one more single completes the over.

“An under-the-radar benefit of getting the GOAT back in the side is that catch - NZ have been spilling those sorts of chances left, right and centre in the last 3 games. Top, top quality cricketer.”

Ben Bernards in (snowy?) Sweden emails his appreciation of that catch. Kane still showing he is… able. *GROAN*.

Updated

3rd over: Pakistan 10-1 (Zaman 5, Babar 0) Pakistan need every ounce of Babar’s genius today. He’s down the non-strikers end as Boult shimmies in to Fakhar Zaman. Four! A short ball is clobbered through point. Boult shakes his head in disgust and responds with four dots.

WICKET! Shafique c Williamson b Southee 4 (Pakistan 6-1)

WHAT. A. CATCH.

Kane Williamson shrugs off the fact that he’s fresh off an ACL injury and a broken thumb and leaps backwards to pluck a lofted drive from Shafique out of the sky like a fresh peach. New Zealand have an early scalp and here comes Babar Azam.

Tim Southee - the wily old operator - opens his wicket account and goes for just a single off his first over.

2nd over: Pakistan 6-1 (Zaman 1, Babar 0)

1st over: Pakistan 5-0 (Shafique 4, Zaman 0) Here we go then, Trent Boult has the shiny new orb and he’ll be running into Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique. Pakistan need to get off to a flier, the required run rate is teetering around eight an over. Boult starts with two dots before Shafique flicks the third ball away over mid-wicket for four! Boult responds with an inswinging yorker that Shafique does well to dig out. A wide ball outside off gifts Pakistan another, they need all the help they can get, this would comfortably be their biggest ever ODI chase if they manage to pull it off. Big if. Five off the first over, hangover waning, life is good acceptable!

Scrap that, the drizzle has relented and the rope has been dragged around the outfield - here come the players. First over incoming…

There’s a bit of mizzle in Bengalaru which is delaying Pakistan’s innings getting started. Hopefully won’t be too long before they get underway – those 402 runs aren’t going to get themselves.

Small mercies:

Thanks Rob and hello everyone. Confession time - I’m a teensy bit hungover this morning, too much revelry after Friday night five-a-side footy - there was a lot to unpick. Will a Pakistan run-fest perk me up? Maybe. New Zealand running through Babar Azam’s side like a hot knife through ghee in less than a couple of hours would be… nice.

Updated

That’s all from me. Jim Wallace will be along for the runchase (sic), and in the meantime you can follow England v Australia in Ahmedabad. Bye!

Where to start? With Rachin Ravindra, of course. He top-scored with a charming 108, his third century of a never-to-be-forgotten World Cup debut, and added 180 for the second wicket with Kane Williamson in less than 23 overs. Williamson was eye-catchingly fluent on his return, hitting 95 from 79 balls.

That platform allowed the bovver boys in the middle order to cause mayham, and all bar Tom Latham (who faced only two balls) scored at a strike rate of at least 140.

Pakistan’s bowling performance was imperfect, with Shaheen Afridi (10-0-90-0) and Haris Rauf (10-0-85-1) bowling the two most expensive spells in their World Cup history. Hasan Ali went for 82 as well, but the youngster Mohammad Wasim was outstanding and took 3/60.

The pitch is much better than expected, certainly when the quicks are bowling, but it’s hard to see how Pakistan – who have never chased 350 to win an ODI, never mind 400 – can pull this off. Not least because New Zealand have four spinners.

Updated

“You say it so casually that it almost hides the bizarreness - that New Zealand have made their highest score ever in a World Cup,” says Nick Parish. “Against Pakistan, in the sub-continent. Consider all the matches they’ve played against Zimbabwe, Ireland, Bangladesh over the years. Not to mention England…”

I think I’m punch-drunk after four weeks of OBOing these run-orgies. Also, in fairness, the way Conway and Ravindra were batting against England, they’d probably have made 500 if necessary.

Pakistan need 402 to stay in the World Cup!

50th over: New Zealand 401-6 (Santner 26, Latham 2) Santner drives Afridi’s third-last delivery magnificently over long off for six, a shot that breaks two records. This is now New Zealand’s highest score at a World Cup, and Afridi has stolen Haris Rauf’s hard-earned record for the worst figures by a Pakistan bowler in a World Cup game.

Santner pilfers three off the last two balls, which takes New Zealand past 400 and just short of their highest ODI score of 402. And I don’t know whether I’ve mentioned this before, but Pakistan bloody well put them into bloody bat.

49th over: New Zealand 388-6 (Santner 15, Latham 1) Tom Latham tucks Wasim’s final ball for a single. Wasim, by far the pick of the bowlers, finishes with 10-0-60-3.

Updated

WICKET! New Zealand 388-6 (Phillips b Wasim 18)

Santner swipes Wasim over long-off for six, yet another boundary off the first ball of an over. A savage slap through the covers gives Phillips four more – but again Wasim’s response is impressive. He knows Phillips is backing away so he arrows a very wide delivery just inside the tramlines.

Wasim tries again next ball but goes too wide. So he changes his approach and follows Phillips with an attempted yorker that hits the pad and deflects back onto the stumps. Lovely stuff from a fine young bowler, and the end of a seriously hard-hitting innings: 41 from 25 balls with four fours and two sixes.

48th over: New Zealand 376-5 (Phillips 37, Santner 8) Santner is dropped by Salman Ali Agha, a very tough diving chance on the edge of the circle. A hitherto excellent over from Afridi, full of variations, is ruined when Phillips clubs a low full toss over long-on for six.

New Zealand need 18 from 12 balls to make their highest score at a World Cup, and 27 for their highest ODI total.

Updated

47th over: New Zealand 366-5 (Phillips 30, Santner 6) Amid the rubble, Pakistan appear to have found one in Mohammad Wasim*. He concludes another fine over – four singles, one two – by beating Phillips for pace.

Pakistan are running over in the field, which means they will be allowed four outside the circle for the last three overs.

* Mind you, I thought the same about Basit Ali in the Caribbean in 1992-93. You rarely know in sport, and you never know when it comes to Pakistan cricket.

46th over: New Zealand 360-5 (Phillips 27, Santner 1) The first ball of Haris Rauf’s final over is muscled spectacularly over wide long-on for six by Phillips. A ferocious cut for four more is followed by a single which takes him to 28 from 16 balls – and makes Rauf’s spell the most expensive in Pakistan’s World Cup history. (Men’s World Cup history, that is.)

Haris being Haris, the last ball of his record-breaking spell is a jaffa that beats Santner. He finishes with figures of 10-0-85-1.

Updated

45th over: New Zealand 347-5 (Phillips 16, Santner 1) Tom Latham continues to slide down the order, with Mitchell Santner promoted to No7. His first ball brings an unsuccessful LBW appeal; pitched outside leg.

That’s a fine over from Wasim, who has been one of the few positives of this Pakistan campaign: in three games he has taken seven wickets at 17.

WICKET! New Zealand 345-5 (Chapman b Wasim 39)

Chapman misses, Mohammad Wasim hits. He was trying to hoick it over midwicket but it was slightly too full and skidded on to hit the top of off. That’s another good wicket for Pakistan, which ends a perky innings of 39 from 27 balls.

Updated

44th over: New Zealand 343-4 (Chapman 39, Phillips 14) Not for the first time in this tournament, poor Haris Rauf is threatening to take Hasan Ali’s unwanted record for the worst bowling figures by a Pakistan bowler at a World Cup (9-0-84-1).

Rauf often pulls it back at the death, though, and he keeps New Zealand to six runs with some skilful bowling. That gives him figures of 9-0-72-1.

The number of cock-ups at the toss in this tournament is fascinating, especially as most involve the same mistake. This will be the eighth 350+ total against a Test-playing nation who chose to bowl first; there were only seven in the previous 12 World Cups combined. That’s a helluva statistic, even if I do say so myself. And there might be a ninth in a few hours’ time after England chose to field on a sweltering day in Ahmedabad.

Updated

43rd over: New Zealand 337-4 (Chapman 37, Phillips 12) For the umpteenth time today the first ball of an over is hit for four, this time by Chapman off Hasan Ali. At times today Hasan has bowled well – but his bad overs have been dreadful, which is why he finishes with grim figures of 10-0-82-1. A boundary off the last ball would have made Hasan’s figures the worst by a Pakistan bowler at a World Cup, though he already holds that record.

42nd over: New Zealand 326-4 (Chapman 30, Phillips 8) An attempted yorker from Rauf goes wrong and is flicked for four by the new batter Glenn Phillips. That’s New Zealand’s 42nd four of the innings, an ODI record for them, and No43 follows two balls later with a brutal cover drive.

Pakistan won the toss you know.

“I suppose we should be grateful that we saw the denouement of young Ravindra’s magnificent innings before Sky ripped us over to watch a coin toss,” writes Brian Withington. “I stayed long enough to hear Jos Buttler’s interview with Michael Atherton, who served up some friendly half volleys that the former treated like toe-crushing yorkers. Not sure he’s got much left in the tank. Meanwhile NZ are looking like powering their way into the semis, barring a truly momentous chase …”

New Zealand could still go out even if they win today, though it would take an unlikely sequence of results.

WICKET! New Zealand 318-4 (Mitchell b Rauf 29)

Haris Rauf may go the distance but he always come back for more. He has dismissed the dangerous Daryl Mitchell with a terrific off-break that took the inside edge and ricocheted onto the stumps. Mitchell goes for a no-nonsense 29 from 18 balls.

41st over: New Zealand 318-3 (Mitchell 29, Chapman 30) Mitchell blooters successive deliveries from Hasan Ali down the ground for four and six. New Zealand, who have scored 57 from the last fiver overs, look set to beat their highest World Cup score, the Guptill-fuelled 393/6 against West Indies in the 2015 quarter-final.

40th over: New Zealand 307-3 (Mitchell 18, Chapman 30) Even Afridi is unable to stem the flow. A slower one is flogged over the off side for four by Chapman, who clatters another boundary to the right of mid-off. His wristwork is pretty eyecatching, even when he hits on the off side.

A miserable over for Pakistan concludes with a flashing drive past backward point to the fence. This is carnage. Mitchell and Chapman have added 46 in 25 balls. So much for this being a difficult pitch to start on.

Updated

39th over: New Zealand 291-3 (Mitchell 17, Chapman 15) Dumb luck for Hasan Ali, who is edged wide of the keeper for four by Chapman. Those runs tarnish a pretty good over.

“Getting up early on a Saturday is much better than being in charge of the afternoon OBO I guess,” says Krishamoorthy V, who clearly has more love for a 4am alarm than I do. “In the spirit of Liz Truss vs Lettuce , shall we place a tub of ice cream against England this afternoon (in London of course).”

I see they’re chasing again. Their campaign might be a shocker for the ages but they’ve been peerless at winning the toss.

38th over: New Zealand 284-3 (Mitchell 16, Chapman 10) An aggressive move from Babar Azam, who brings back Shaheen Afridi in pursuit of more wickets. That’s Pakistan’s best chance of keeping New Zealand below 350 – but it’s a poor over from Afridi and New Zealand take advantage.

Chapman pulls a short ball for four and clatters a low full toss to the boundary at extra cover. Then Mitchell, a world-class batsman hiding in plain sight, picks the slower ball and launches it over mid-on for a one-bounce four.

37th over: New Zealand 271-3 (Mitchell 12, Chapman 1) The first two balls of Haris Rauf’s spell are put away for four by Mitchell. I can’t tell you what happened because the TV coverage cut abruptly to England v Australia and it took me 30 seconds to find out which channel this game was on.

Poor Haris has gone the distance again today, conceding 59 from seven overs. He never hides and rarely bowls below 90mph unless he wants to, but he’s had a tough tournament. Twelve wickets at 37 isn’t too bad; an economy rate of 6.71 is less than ideal

36th over: New Zealand 261-3 (Mitchell 3, Chapman 0) Ravindra looked gutted when the catch was taken – partly because he thought he’d nailed it for six, partly because he was having so much fun and wanted to continue for another 14 overs. He played beautifully, yet again, to make 108 from 94 balls.

Mark Chapman, a left-hander, is promoted to No5.

Updated

WICKET! New Zealand 261-3 (Ravindra c Shakeel b Wasim 108)

A truly joyous innings comes to an end. The ball after walloping Wasim through extra cover for four, again demonstrating his spectacular handspeed, Ravindra plays an extravagant pick-up shot that is taken by Saud Shakeel at backward square leg. I thought it was going for six but that’s a big part of the ground and Shakeel ran round the boundary to take an excellent catch.

Updated

35th over: New Zealand 252-2 (Ravindra 101, Mitchell 3) Pakistan appeal for LBW first ball against the new batter Daryl Mitchell. Outside the line.

“Must agree about Rachin,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “Such a stable head on those young shoulders . He is demonstrating that quick scoring need not be unorthodox or ugly. He reminds me so much of a young Michael Owen in his dream World Cup.”

That’s an interesting comparison. Owen was very arrogant, even at 18 – I don’t say that pejoratively, it enabled him to do astonishing things – but like Ravindra his performances were genuinely awesome and he showed such clarity.

I suppose the tale of Owen, who arguably peaked before he won the Ballon d’Or at the age of 21, reminds us that you can take nothing for granted with young players, even those with an otherworldly talent.

Updated

WICKET! New Zealand 248-2 (Williamson c Fakhar b Iftikhar 95)

Kane Williamson falls while trying to reach his century with a six. He danced down to Iftikhar and lofted the ball towards long off, where Fakhar Zaman ran round the boundary to take an excellent catch.

That’s well bowled by Iftikhar, who has been much better round the wicket in this spell, and the end of a cracking attacking innings from Williamson: 95 from 78 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. He was so close to a third.

ANOTHER HUNDRED FOR RACHIN RAVINDRA!

34th over: New Zealand 246-1 (Ravindra 100, Williamson 93) Babar Azam makes his sixth bowling change in nine overs, bringing back Mohammad Wasim. The non-striker Williamson survives another run-out chance after backing up too far. He was nowhere near when Salman Ali Agha’s throw missed the stumps.

Ravindra pulls four to move to 99, then swats a hook to reach his third century of the World Cup! It’s been another gorgeous innings: 88 balls, 14 fours, one six. He smiles shyly and raises his bat to the crowd and of course his teammates, who all bounced exultantly to their feet the moment he got the ball away.

This is not normal, nowhere near. At the age of 23, Rachin Ravindra has become the first twentysomething to score three centuries at a men’s World Cup. Watching him bat is such a mind-altering experience that it’s in danger of being made illegal.

Updated

33rd over: New Zealand 240-1 (Ravindra 95, Williamson 92) Iftikhar Ahmed returns to the attack. His second ball, from round the wicket, is reverse swept to short third by Williamson. He tries to steal a single and is just home when Iftikhar breaks the stumps. Iftikhar had to reach to his left to fetch the throw; that delay saved Williamson.

32nd over: New Zealand 236-1 (Ravindra 94, Williamson 89) Williamson picks Hasan up for a flat six, then crashes the next ball for four to become New Zealand’s highest World Cup runscorers: 1077, two more than Stephen Fleming.

A no-ball compounds Pakistan misery, and though Hasan keeps the free hit down to two runs, the extra ball is deposited over midwicket for a one-bounce four by Ravindra. Eighteen from the over.

“Kia ora Rob,” writes Graeme Simpson. “At Eden Park, 1992 CWC. The semi-final and in the midst of directing a profile of Martin Crowe in conversation with his brother, Jeff. Deadline? The following Tuesday on TVONE. At lunch, very relaxed… Then, Pakistan just took all our dreams away. They included my boss offering to shout my team a trip to Melbourne for the final, if we won.

“Marty was devastated, but, he handled it with extraordinary dignity. Kind of like how Captain Kane coped with the loss in the final four years ago. The doco finished with the team (some in tears) on a lap of honour, ‘Brothers in Arms’ by Dire Straits as the soundtrack and ending on a freeze frame of Marty waving to the crowd, Fade to Black. Never, ever count the Pakistanis out!”

Heh, fair point, I thought the game was over when an out-of-form unknown called Inzamam-ul-Haq trudged to the crease. But Pakistan really do look done here.

Updated

31st over: New Zealand 218-1 (Ravindra 88, Williamson 78) Babar Azam continues to move the deckchairs. Mohammad Wasim, on for Rauf, is cuffed through midwicket for four by Williamson. He has quietly raced to 78 from just 66 balls, his fastest substantial ODI innings since 2015.

Updated

Drinks break

In the 48-year history of the World Cup, nobody under the age of 30 has made three centuries in a single tournament. Rachin Ravindra, aged 23 and three quarters, is 12 runs away from doing so.

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30th over: New Zealand 211-1 (Ravindra 88, Williamson 71) Hasan Ali, on for Afridi, is belted for boundaries through square leg and other midwicket by Williamson. This is getting ugly for Pakistan.

29th over: New Zealand 200-1 (Ravindra 87, Williamson 61) Sheer delightful batting from Ravindra, who sways back to glide a bouncer from Rauf over the keeper’s head for four.

I’m struggling to recall a more life-affirming World Cup debut, ever. He is a beacon of elegance, charm, humility – and he’s about to stroke his 500th run of the tournament. Only Jonny Bairstow has scored more in his first World Cup.

And there it is! Ravindra moves past 500 runs for the tournament with a spectacular pull for six. It was in the slot but his hand-speed was a thing of beauty.

Updated

28th over: New Zealand 187-1 (Ravindra 76, Williamson 60) Pakistan have never been great at chasing massive totals, though their three highest runchases – between 337 and 349 – have all come in the last two years. Maybe the unambiguous nature of the situation – go huge or go home – will liberate them. Fakhar Zaman will be a key man.

Barring something unforseeable, they will be chasing at least 320. A wicket could change things, as it might not be easy to start against the old ball on this pitch. Afridi almost gets it with a terrific yorker that is dug out by Ravindra. Six from the over.

27th over: New Zealand 181-1 (Ravindra 72, Williamson 57) In the first 12 World Cups, from 1975-2019, there were only seven matches in which the captain of a Test-playing nation chose to bowl first and conceded a total of 350+. It has already happened seven times in this tournament, and New Zealand are well set to make it eight.

Haris Rauf returns in place of Iftikhar. Williamson greets him with a majestic cover drive for four, though Rauf’s follow-up is a good one that beats the bat.

26th over: New Zealand 173-1 (Ravindra 71, Williamson 52) Shaheen Shah Afridi is back, and if he can take a quick eight-for you never know. Williamson winces after mistiming a stroke, so maybe his thumb hasn’t fully healed. You wouldn’t know it from the way he’s playing, though: he drives a couple to reach a fine half-century from 49 balls.

25th over: New Zealand 168-1 (Ravindra 70, Williamson 48) If Pakistan do go out today this will probably go down as their most disappointing World Cup since 2007. Their only victories to date have been against Netherlands, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Iftikhar replaces Salman but he gets the same treatment. Williamson hits successive boundaries over extra cover and through midwicket; he looks in fine touch and has sped to 48 from 45 balls. Ravindra makes it an even better over – 15 from it – with a cut that dips just short of backward point and bounces away for four.

Kane Williamson looked in fine form on his return to the side
Kane Williamson looked in fine form on his return to the side. Photograph: Aijaz Rahi/AP

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24th over: New Zealand 153-1 (Ravindra 65, Williamson 38) Pakistan may be in serious trouble, but Mohammad Wasim is largely beyond reproach. Those five wides aside he has bowled an excellent four-over spell – very straight, with admirable control of line and length

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23rd over: New Zealand 150-1 (Ravindra 64, Williamson 37) Salman Ali Agha is not long for this bowling spell. His second has just disappeared for 13, with Williamson driving six over extra cover and Ravindra slog-sweeping for four. Pakistan are in serious trouble here.

Updated

22nd over: New Zealand 137-1 (Ravindra 59, Williamson 29) Four singles from Wasim’s over. Nobody has scored more runs against Pakistan in World Cups than Sachin Tendulkar: 313 in total, including a sizzling 98 in 2003 and a vital 85 in the 2011 semi-final. They thought they’d seen the last of him, but Ravindra is giving them a reminder of past miseries.

21st over: New Zealand 133-1 (Ravindra 57, Williamson 27) Salman Ali Agha comes on to bowl some part-time off spin. Ravindra scuffs his first ball, a yorker, to fine leg for four. The rest of the over yields three singles and a wide.

“Good morning Rob,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “Afghanistan winning this world cup will be a bigger upset than India winning it 1983. Afghanistan will need a Kapilesque 175 from their captain in their next match against Australia after a scorecard that reads 17 for five.”

If we’re doing fantasy scenarios, England aren’t technically out of the competition yet…

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20th over: New Zealand 125-1 (Ravindra 51, Williamson 25) The non-striker Ravindra calls Williamson through for a naughty single on the leg side and is home when Wasim’s throw hits the stumps. Wasim went for the wrong end: Williamson was much slower out of the blocks so Wasim had enough time to collect the ball, turn and measure his throw.

Ravindra works Wasim for two to reach his fourth 50+ score of the tournament, a typically graceful 51-ball effort. If he’s not your new favourite cricketer, I’m not sure we can be friends.

Rachin Ravindra acknowledges the crowd after reaching his half-century
Rachin Ravindra acknowledges the crowd after reaching his half-century. Photograph: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC/Getty Images

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19th over: New Zealand 119-1 (Ravindra 47, Williamson 25) Ravindra skids back in his crease to cut Iftikhar expertly for four. He has saved his best for the best in this tournament: 123 not out v England when we still thought they were good, 75 v India, 116 v Australia and, okay, 9 v South Africa. His average against the big six at this World Cup is 123, with a strike-rate of 110. Industrial productivity delivered with Gowerish elegance.

18th over: New Zealand 112-1 (Ravindra 42, Williamson 23) Mohammad Wasim, who has been impressive since coming into the side against South Africa, replaces Haris Rauf. His first over is excellent with one costly exception – the third ball scuttles under a disgusted Rizwan for five wides. After that he found his spot to twice beat Ravindra twice outside off stump.

Updated

17th over: New Zealand 105-1 (Ravindra 42, Williamson 22) Williamson chips Iftikhar in the air but short of long on. A single, one of just two from the over. There’s already enough turn for Iftikhar to make Pakistan regret leaving out Usama Mir.

16th over: New Zealand 103-1 (Ravindra 41, Williamson 21) It feels like Ravindra has been quiet for the last half an hour, yet he’s still scoring at a run a ball. He drags a short ball from Rauf for a single to bring up the New Zealand hundred. Williamson waves a cover drive into space for a couple more before stealing a single on the off side. Pakistan are in urgent need of a wicket or two; they’re in danger of going out of the World Cup with a whimper, and a Pakistan side should never do that. 25 all out, sure, but not a whimper.

Updated

15th over: New Zealand 97-1 (Ravindra 40, Williamson 17) Winning the toss has been a mixed blessing in this tournament. Almost every captain has got it wrong at some stage, usually by bowling first, and overall only nine of the 33 matches have been won by the team that won the toss. That’s 27 per cent, by far the lowest at any World Cup.

It’s dangerous to make assumptions in this tournament but it feels like Babar Azam has made the wrong call today. New Zealand are well ahead of where we expected them to bat at this stage. Iftikhar, on for Hasan Ali, is smeared down the ground for four by Ravindra, and four singles make it another good over for New Zealand. The last ball, which turned sharply back into Williamson, will encourage New Zealand’s four spinners.

14th over: New Zealand 90-1 (Ravindra 34, Williamson 16) Williamson tries to drive a very fast delivery from Rauf and edges wide of slip for four. Rauf, whose pace is up to around 93 mph, beats Ravindra with a terrific bouncer later in the over. That ball looks particularly tricky to play today.

“Hi!” writes Prakash. “I am Prakash Nanavati from Mumbai (India) and following the live coverage on The Guardian though I also watch it live on TV - thanks to my friend V Krishnamoorthy based in Poland and following you here!”

Ah, he is one of our regular correspondents. I had no idea he lived in Poland.

13th over: New Zealand 81-1 (Ravindra 31, Williamson 11) This has been a good, accurate second spell from Hasan Ali: 3-0-11-1 with no boundaries. He ends am impressive over with a sharp bouncer that Ravindra avoids.

“As an Indian, I am questioning whether this is the right line of thought,” says Arul Kanhere. “I’m hoping for a Pakistan win and consequently (probably) facing a cornered Pakistan in the semis without Hardik, but the fact is it will add some much-needed spice to a bland tournament.”

It’s been a grind so far, the worst group stage I can recall. But a couple of Super Overs in the semis and a one-wicket win in the final would make it all worthwhile.

Updated

12th over: New Zealand 77-1 (Ravindra 29, Williamson 9) I thought Conway’s dismissal came from a bottom-edge onto the helmet. Replays show that, in fact, he gloved tbe ball onto his shoulder and through to Rizwan. That aside it was an award-winning piece of journalism.

Meanwhile, Williamson is up and running. He times Haris Rauf sweetly past backward point for four, only the second ball he has faced after four weeks out, then opens the face to steer a boundary to third man. It went finer than intended but was perfectly safe. This has been a terrific start for New Zealand.

11th over: New Zealand 69-1 (Ravindra 29, Williamson 1) Kane Williamson, back after missing four games with a broken thumb, works his first ball for a single.

That was a good innings from Conway, 35 from 39 balls, if not quite the return to form he wanted.

Updated

WICKET! New Zealand 68-1 (Conway c Rizwan b Hasan 35)

Devon Conway walks! He tried to pull a good bouncer from Hasan Ali and bottom-edged it onto his helmet and through to Rizwan. Seven years after his debut at Malahide, Hasan has taken his 100th ODI wicket.

Pakistan celebrate the wicket of Devon Conway
Pakistan celebrate the wicket of Devon Conway. Photograph: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

10th over: New Zealand 66-0 (Conway 33, Ravindra 28) Haris Rauf bowls the last over of the Powerplay. Throughout the tournament – at least from memory, I don’t have hardcore stats to hand – his first over has been expensive. This isn’t too bad: seven from it, including a high-class square drive from Conway. So far, so very good for New Zealand.

“Hi Rob,” says Lindsay Went. “The small number of innings shows the general lack of importance of the stat but it was worth noting that of the four partnerships averaging over 100 with eight or more innings, three of them involved one D G Bradman.”

No surprise to see Bradman and Bill Ponsford are top of the list. I

Updated

9th over: New Zealand 59-0 (Conway 27, Ravindra 28) Hasan Ali replaces Shaheen Afridi, who bowled a four-over spell of diminishing quality. It’s a decent start, with a tighter line from round the wicket. Ravindra swats a pull for two to move to 28 from 23 balls; who knew joyriding could be so elegant?

Rachin Ravindra is playing another elegant innings for New Zealand
Rachin Ravindra is playing another elegant innings for New Zealand. Photograph: Aijaz Rahi/AP

Updated

8th over: New Zealand 56-0 (Conway 26, Ravindra 26) A very poor over from Iftikhrar. A short ball is cut for four by Ravindra, then an ever shorter ball is pulled handsomely to deep midwicket for four more. Pakistan are in danger of losing the plot here.

7th over: New Zealand 47-0 (Conway 25, Ravindra 18) The runs continue to flow, with 35 off the last four overs now. Conway top-edges a pull off Afridi for four, then tickles just wide of the diving Rizwan for another boundary. Ravindra trumps him with another beautiful shot, flicked wristily to the midwicket boundary. He looks in ethereal touch.

Updated

6th over: New Zealand 34-0 (Conway 16, Ravindra 14) The offspinner Iftikhar Ahmed replaces Hasan Ali after a couple of overs. His second ball is too wide and driven for four by Conway. “Two new balls, sun’s out – this is the time to bat,” says Matthew Hayden on commentary.

The consensus is that life will get trickier after the Powerplay, as it did for England on this ground against Sri Lanka. They were 44/0 at this stage, and then it all went wrong. Big time.

5th over: New Zealand 29-0 (Conway 11, Ravindra 14) Afridi’s first over was excellent but since then it’s been all New Zealand. A couple of leg-side wides add to the tally, then Ravindra plays another gorgeous extra-cover drive for four. Honestly, this kid is making my spine shiver.

It’s an exceptionally small sample size and thus largely irrelevant, but a stat like this has to be shared: in international cricket Conway and Ravindra have an average partnership of 314. That’s the third highest of all time.

4th over: New Zealand 21-0 (Conway 10, Ravindra 9) Conway has struggled of late, with only 50 runs in the last four innings, but he’s a key man – especially in such a big game.

Ravindra, by contrast, is in the form of his life. He times a perfectly good delivery from Hasan Ali through extra cover for four, a shot of rare elegance. These two love batting together and they’ve made a strong start; Conway reinforces that point with an efficient clip to the square-leg boundary.

3rd over: New Zealand 12-0 (Conway 6, Ravindra 4) Conway pushes Shaheen through square leg for two to get off the mark. It’s noticeable how straight Afridi is bowling, trying to make the batsmen play at everything on what might be a two-paced pitch. Conway, who knows what is coming, runs down the track to time an imperious drive over mid-off for four.

2nd over: New Zealand 6-0 (Conway 0, Ravindra 4) Like Shaheen, Hasan Ali starts with a wide. When he strays down leg again later in the over, Ravindra gets the first runs off the bat with a simple flick to fine leg for four. Punishing bad balls could be crucial if the pitch is as sticky as expected.

“Greetings from Sydney,” writes David Whittle. “Just wanted to point out that, in fact, a NZ victory over Pakistan would mathematically eliminate Pakistan, England, the Netherlands and Sri Lanka.”

Yes, yes it would and I have failed another permutations exam. I suppose Pakistan being at the point of no return all adds to the 1992 vibe.

1st over: New Zealand 1-0 (Conway 0, Ravindra 0) Afridi starts with a wide but he’s right on it after that. A series of excellent deliveries – straight, swinging away a touch – are defended by Conway.

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra walk out to bat. Shaheen Shah Afridi has the ball.

The pitch

This is the ground on which England collapsed against Sri Lanka. Matthew Hayden, wearing a quite sensational pink fedora, expects a slow, awkward pitch, with a par score of around 270. The two teams have read it differently, with Pakistan bringing in an extra quick bowler and New Zealand recalling the legspinner Ish Sodhi.

Team news

New Zealand bring in Kane Williamson, Mark Chapman and Ish Sodhi for Will Young, Jimmy Neesham and the injured Matt Henry. Pakistan prefer Hasan Ali to the legspinner Usama Mir.

New Zealand Conway, Ravindra, Williamson (c), Mitchell, Latham (wk), Phillips, Chapman, Santner, Sodhi, Southee, Boult.

Pakistan Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.

Updated

Pakistan win the toss and bowl

Babar Azam says there’s a bit of moisture in the pitch, hence the decision to field. They’ve also picked the extra seamer in Hasan Ali.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who returns from injury, says “it’s a slightly different-looking surface to what we expect here”.

Pandya ruled out of World Cup

A bit of news from elsewhere: Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya, who injured his ankle against Bangladesh, has been replaced in the squad by the seam bowler Prasidh Krishna. That may be significant come the knockout stages as Pandya is essentially irreplaceable.

Preamble

Hello. This World Cup has had so many tomorrows that England are still technically in the competition. But – at last - today is all about today. Australia play England later; for once, however, that game isn’t the most important fixture in the calendar. New Zealand and Pakistan meet in Bengaluru knowing that the semi-finals ain’t big enough for the both of them. (It might not be big enough for either of them, but let’s not get into that just yet.)

While pedantic mathematicians will disagree, realistically Pakistan will be out if they lose today. [Edit: as David Whittle points out above, I got this wrong – they’ll be mathematically eliminated if they lose.] But if they win they will join New Zealand on eight points, with powerful memories of 1992 to add, and it will all come down to the last round of fixtures. Pakistan play after New Zealand so would know, in theory, what they needed to do. (If today’s match is rained off, which is a possibility given the forecast for the second innings, they’ll still have one fingernail gripping the edge of the precipice.)

A New Zealand win, as well as ending a run of three straight defeats, would keep their fate securely in their own hands. Even a narrow defeat wouldn’t be the end of the world, given their superior net run-rate. But another heavy defeat is unthinkable.

The situation is too complicated, and England aren’t out of this thing yet Afghanistan are playing too well, to say this is a de facto quarter-final. But it is the most important game of the tournament so far.

The match begins at 5am GMT, 10.30am in Bengaluru.

Updated

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