Introduction: pakistan national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team match scorecard
On November 4, 2023, the Pakistan national cricket team faced off against the New Zealand national cricket team in a thrilling ICC Cricket World Cup match held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It was a high-scoring encounter where New Zealand posted a huge total, but Pakistan chased it down bravely and claimed an important victory using the DLS (Duckworth–Lewis–Stern) method due to rain interruptions.
Table of Contents
Match Overview
- Match Number: 35th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
- Date: November 4, 2023
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Result: Pakistan won by 21 runs (DLS method)
- Player of the Match: Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
New Zealand Innings: A Powerful Start
New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first. They were in top form and scored big runs, making it a tough chase for Pakistan.
Top Performers for New Zealand
- Rachin Ravindra: Scored 108 runs off 94 balls, hitting 15 fours and 1 six. His knock was full of classy strokes and quick running between the wickets.
- Kane Williamson: Played a strong innings of 95 runs off 79 balls with 10 boundaries and 2 sixes.
- Glenn Phillips: Chipped in with a fast 41 off just 25 balls.
New Zealand ended their innings at 401 runs for 6 wickets in 50 overs. This was one of their best performances in World Cup history and the highest score they’ve ever made in a World Cup match.
Pakistan’s Bowling Highlights
Pakistan’s bowlers struggled a bit against the aggressive New Zealand batting, but a few players managed to take important wickets:
- Mohammad Wasim Jr.: Took 3 wickets for 60 runs in his 10 overs.
- Haris Rauf: Picked up 1 wicket while giving away 85 runs.
- Hasan Ali: Got 1 wicket for 82 runs.
Although they gave away a lot of runs, the bowlers stayed focused and kept trying to break partnerships.
Pakistan’s Chase: Fakhar Zaman Shines
Pakistan had a huge target of 402 runs to chase, which looked nearly impossible at the start. But they came out with a strong mindset and started scoring quickly.
Star of the Show
- Fakhar Zaman: He played a stunning innings and remained not out with 126 runs from just 81 balls. He smashed 8 fours and 11 sixes, attacking the bowlers right from the beginning. His fearless batting gave Pakistan a great chance.
- Babar Azam: The Pakistan captain supported him well with a calm and steady 66 runs off 63 balls. Together, they built a solid partnership.
Pakistan reached 200 runs for the loss of just 1 wicket in 25.3 overs when rain stopped the game. According to the DLS method, Pakistan was ahead of the required score at that moment.
Final Match Summary
- New Zealand: 401/6 in 50 overs
- Pakistan: 200/1 in 25.3 overs
- Result: Pakistan won by 21 runs (DLS method)
- Player of the Match: Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
What is the DLS Method?
If you’re wondering how Pakistan won despite not chasing the full score, it’s because of the DLS method. This method is used in rain-affected matches to calculate a fair target for the team batting second. Since Pakistan was ahead of the required score when rain interrupted the match, they were declared the winners.
Why This Match Was Important
This win was very important for Pakistan because:
- It kept their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.
- It boosted the team’s confidence after a few tough games.
- Fakhar Zaman’s performance reminded fans of how dangerous he can be.
Fans React to the Big Win
Cricket fans around the world were thrilled by the match. Pakistani fans were especially overjoyed to see their team come back strong and put on such a powerful performance. Social media was full of praise for Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and the entire squad.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Pakistan still had a chance to move forward in the tournament. Their remaining matches became even more important, and they needed to win them to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Final Thoughts
The Pakistan vs. New Zealand match was one of the most exciting games of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. It had everything — big scores, brilliant batting, and a dramatic finish thanks to the rain and the DLS method.
Fakhar Zaman’s fearless hitting and Babar Azam’s steady hand guided Pakistan to a memorable victory. It was a day for cricket fans to remember, showing once again why we love the game so much.