Can Pakistan Reach Semifinals After Beating New Zealand?
Cricket World Cup 2023: How Pakistan Can Reach the Semifinals After Beating New Zealand
In a surprising cricket match, Pakistan managed to win against New Zealand. This victory keeps their hopes alive for a spot in the semifinals of the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Even though New Zealand scored a huge 401 runs in the first part of the game, Pakistan won by 21 runs after some help from the rain and great performances by their captain, Babar Azam, and their star player, Fakhar Zaman. They used a method called DLS to calculate the result after the match was interrupted by rain.
With this win, Pakistan still has a chance to make it to the semifinals. But here’s the tricky part: If the match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka gets canceled because of rain, Pakistan needs to do two things to have a chance:
- They must beat England.
- If Afghanistan wins against either South Africa or Australia, Pakistan needs to keep their score difference (Net Run Rate) higher than Afghanistan’s.
However, if Afghanistan beats both South Africa and Australia, and Australia wins against Bangladesh, then Pakistan won’t make it to the semifinals.
Now, let’s talk about Fakhar Zaman, who played an amazing innings in this match. He scored a century in just 63 balls, which is the fastest century ever for Pakistan in a World Cup. He has been in great form since his comeback and has been a key player for Pakistan with his attacking batting style.
Although Fakhar Zaman’s century was impressive, the record for the fastest World Cup century still belongs to Glenn Maxwell from Australia, who did it in just 40 balls this year.
During Pakistan’s innings, rain interrupted the game when they were at 160/1 in 21.3 overs. Fakhar Zaman was unbeaten at 106 in 69 balls, showing his excellent form and a high strike rate.
This victory and Fakhar Zaman’s performance are crucial for Pakistan’s chances in the Cricket World Cup 2023. They are now in a position to compete for a spot in the semifinals.
In the match, New Zealand’s batsmen Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson played well, and some of their middle-order players like Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, and Daryl Mitchell contributed aggressively to help New Zealand reach a total of 400 runs.
This win sets up an exciting scenario for Pakistan’s journey in the Cricket World Cup 2023 as they aim to secure a place in the semifinals.
