By Syed Atiq ul Hassan, 5 Nov. 2023
Last night’s cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand proved to be an exhilarating encounter filled with surprises and record-breaking performances. New Zealand, scoring a formidable 401 runs against Pakistan, left 250 million Pakistanis in disbelief. The Pakistani bowlers struggled as New Zealand’s batsmen delivered an outstanding performance.
However, the tide of the game shifted dramatically when Fakhar Zaman stepped up to the crease. His fearless batting style, marked by an astonishing number of sixes, saw him smashing a total of 11 sixes during his innings, a historic number of sixes in the game. Despite being 33 years old, Fakhar displayed remarkable composure in the face of this challenging situation. He concluded his innings with an unbeaten score of 126, while the team’s captain, Babar Azam, scored an impressive 66 not out, ultimately leading Pakistan to a thrilling 21-run victory.
Babar Azam’s performance silenced critics who had questioned his captaincy skills. He demonstrated exceptional leadership by navigating the team through difficult moments in the game, especially with the looming threat of rain. Babar played a solid innings, with Fakhar Zaman guiding him on strategies and positioning in every over.
In contrast, Fakhar Zaman’s batting was a force to be reckoned with, as he dominated New Zealand’s bowlers, leaving them unable to contain him. Even though rain interruptions disrupted the game, it was clear that Babar and Fakhar were on track to achieve the challenging victory target of 402.
Ultimately, the match result was decided using the Duckworth-Lewis/Stern (DL/S) method due to rain interruptions. Fakhar’s outstanding performance, with 126 runs, and Babar Azam’s crucial 66 not out secured Pakistan’s impressive 21-run win.
This match, part of the ongoing ICC Men’s World Cup in India, stands as one of the most sensational encounters in the tournament. The Pakistani Cricket Team once again lived up to its reputation for being a team of surprises, capable of delivering both exceptional and underwhelming performances.
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