ODI World Cup 2023: New Zealand scored 401 runs against Pakistan

New Zealand and Pakistan faced off against each other in a crucial encounter. Both teams needed a win to increase their chances of making it into the semi-finals. Skipper, Kane Williamson returned for New Zealand along with Mark Chapman and Ish Sodhi. Will Young and James Neesham were benched while Matt Henry has been ruled out of the tournament. Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first and replaced Usama Mir with Hassan Ali. New Zealand scored 401 runs in the first innings. Here is a recap of the first innings.

New Zealand goes big in the powerplay

The pitch at Chinnaswamy Stadium did not have grass at all and the Pakistani pacers did not find any lateral movement. Hasan Ali conceded the first boundary of the match in the second over as Rachin Ravindra got off the mark with a four. Devon Conway smashed his first four in the third over off Shaheen Afridi’s bowling. Hasan continued to be expensive conceding two fours in his following over. 

Iftikhar Ahmed was introduced in the attack in the sixth over replacing Hasan. He too started poorly and was hit for three boundaries in his first two overs. Afridi too remained expensive and was hit for three fours in the seventh over. Hasan changed ends and replaced Afridi and bowled a quiet three-run over. Haris Rauf bowled the last over of the powerplay and was hit for a four as he conceded seven runs off his first over. New Zealand scored 66 runs in the powerplay.

Williamson and Ravindra decimate the Pakistani attack

The change of ends worked for Hasan as broke the opening stand by dismissing Conway. This was Hasan’s 100th wicket in the format. The Kiwi opener scored 35 runs in 39 balls hitting six fours. Rauf continued to be expensive and was hit for two boundaries by Kane Williamson. Williamson continued his assault on Rauf and smashed him for another four in his following over. The Kiwi skipper reached 1000 runs in the World Cup and overtook Ross Taylor to become the second-highest run-scorer from New Zealand in World Cups falling behind Stephen Fleming (1075). 

Pakistan’s spin-bowling woes continue

Iftikhar came back into the attack in the 15th over and was welcomed by a four from Ravindraas he leaked seven runs. Iftikhar bowled a quiet two-run 17th over. Mohammad Wasim Jr. was introduced in the attack in the 18th over and started poorly giving five runs off wides. Ravindra completed his half-century in the 20th over in 51 balls.

Agha Salman was introduced in the attack in the 21st over and was welcomed with a boundary by Ravindra. Salman’s misery continued as he was hit for a six and a four in his following over by Williamson and Ravindra respectively. Iftikhar once again came into the attack in the 25th over replacing Salman. But the 33-year-old part-time spinner was no better and was hit for three fours. Babar brought his primary weapon Shaheen Afridi back into the attack. Williamson brought up his half-century in 49 balls. Rauf too was brought back from the opposite end but he continued to be expensive and conceded 21 runs in his two overs. 

At the end of 30 overs, New Zealand had scored 211 runs for the loss of just one wicket. Hasan conceded 18 runs in the 32nd over as Ravindra moved into the nineties. He completed his ton in the 34th over in just 87 balls. He became the first player to score three centuries in their debut World Cup. 

Pakistan bounce back with a couple of wickets

Williamson trying to reach his ton with a six was dismissed by Iftikhar in the following over. Williamson scored 95 runs in just 79 balls hitting 10 fours and two sixes. In the following over Wasim Jr. dismissed Ravindra as the Blackcaps lost both their set batters. Ravindra scored 108 runs in 94 balls hitting 15 fours and one six. 

Mitchell and Chapman score some quick runs

Daryl Mitchell started his knock with a couple of boundaries off Rauf’s bowling in the 37th over. Shaheen too remained expensive and was hit for three boundaries as the left-arm pacer leaked 13 runs in the 38th over. Hasan replaced Rauf in the 39th over and was hit for seven runs. Shaheen was hit for three boundaries by Mark Chapman in the 40th over as he leaked 16 runs in his over. Hasan from the opposite end was hit for a six and a four by Mitchell and conceded 11 runs in the over. 

Rauf replaced Shaheen and broke the 57-run stand with his first ball of the new spell. Rauf dismissed Mitchell with an off-cutter which was dragged on to the stumps by the Kiwi batter. Mitchell scored 29 runs in 18 balls hitting four fours and one six. Glenn Phillips smashed two boundaries in the same over as the eventful eight-run over came to an end.

Hasan bowled out his 10 overs conceding 11 runs in the final to end with figures 10-0-82-1. Wasim continued to be impressive in death overs and dismissed Chapman in the 45th over. Chapman scored 39 runs in 27 balls hitting seven fours.

Pakistan leak runs in death overs

Pakistan were expensive in the last five overs and conceded 54 runs (44-5-50). Rauf conceded 13 runs off his final over in the 46th over and ended with figures of 10-0-85-1. Wasim conceded six runs in the 47th over. Shaheen was hit for a six by Phillips in the 48th over and conceded 10 runs. Wasim bowling the penultimate over was hit for a six and a four but had the last laugh by dismissing Phillips. Phillips scored 41 runs in 24 balls hitting four fours and two sixes. Wasim was the most impressive bowler from the Pakistani side and ended with figures of 10-0-60-3. Shaheen ended with the most expensive figures for a Pakistani bowler in World Cups. He went wicket-less and ended with figures of 10-0-90-0.