NEW DELHI: New Zealand showcased their batting prowess as they piled up a formidable total of 401/6 against Pakistan in a high-stakes World Cup match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Rachin Ravindra, with a brilliant century, and Kane Williamson, who nearly reached a century on his return, were the architects of New Zealand's mammoth total.
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat first. Ravindra (108 off 94 balls) and Devon Conway (35) established a strong opening partnership of 68 runs. However, it was the 180-run stand for the second wicket between Ravindra and Williamson (95 off 79 balls) that provided New Zealand with a confident launching pad.
Williamson, who joined the action after the initial partnership, formed a powerful right-hand, left-hand combination with Ravindra, causing significant challenges for the Pakistani bowlers. Their partnership was methodical, with well-taken singles and twos interspersed with occasional boundaries.
Their batting was marked by class, and even when scoring relatively slowly between the 11th and 20th overs, they displayed an exceptional level of skill. Williamson's backfoot punch through mid-off and Ravindra's off-side play, with minimal trigger movement, were particularly impressive.
The innings was not just about elegance but also included moments of innovation, such as Ravindra's ramp shot for a boundary over the wicket-keeper's head.
Ravindra registered his third century of the tournament, which made him the top century-maker in the competition before turning 25, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. The crowd enthusiastically chanted his name as he reached his hundred.
However, their partnership came to an end when Williamson was dismissed, falling short of his 14th ODI century, attempting to clear the boundary off spinner Iftikhar Ahmed. His catch was brilliantly judged by Fakhar Zaman at long-on.
Ravindra's innings was also cut short as his pull shot was caught at square leg by Saud Shakeel.
Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell continued to propel New Zealand's innings with a 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Glenn Phillips added quick runs at the end, scoring 41 off 26 balls, as New Zealand made an impressive 114 runs in the last 10 overs.
This remarkable performance set a challenging target for Pakistan as they aim to chase 402 runs to stay alive for a spot in the top four in the World Cup group standings.
(With inputs from PTI)
