Fakhar Zaman Shines as Pakistan Prays for Rain Break during Victory

Fakhar Zaman Shines as Pakistan Prays for Rain Break during Victory

VoM News Desk | November 5, 2023 | 10:57 AM IST | Sports | Follow on Google News

Fakhar Zaman Shines as Pakistan Prays for Rain Break during Victory

Fakhar Zaman Shines as Pakistan Prays for Rain Break during Victory

In a thrilling rain-affected encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Pakistan’s opening batter, Fakhar Zaman, played a match-winning century, leading his team to a 21-run victory over New Zealand on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. This victory breathed new life into Pakistan’s chances of qualification in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

Zaman and Azam’s Phenomenal Partnership

A sensational partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam inspired Pakistan to a score of 200/1 after 25.3 overs, putting them ahead of the required run rate when rain halted play early. Zaman and Azam’s remarkable performance was instrumental in securing the win.

A Do-or-Die Mindset

Fakhar Zaman expressed his thoughts after the match, saying, “We were chasing 400 and that was our plan, just to see off the first 4 overs and thankfully it was my day. To be honest, I was lucky a few times but really enjoyed this inning. We know every game is a do-or-die for us, and we have decided to play aggressively, and we are playing with that mindset, so everybody is just trying to score runs.”

Prayers for No More Games During Rain Delays

Interestingly, Pakistan was hoping the game would not resume after the second rain delay. The inclement weather in Bengaluru favored Pakistan, and they secured the win. Fakhar Zaman explained, “We were also praying that we didn’t want any more games to happen (while waiting anxiously in the dressing room during the rain break) because it was already 9 and a half hours, and we knew that DLS would come into the equation. We wanted to play with that aggressive mindset, and we will play aggressively in the next game also.”

Zaman’s Remarkable Century

The match witnessed one of the finest centuries in the World Cup, with Fakhar Zaman smashing nine sixes in the opening 20 overs of the innings to reach his hundred off just 63 balls. Describing his spectacular 126-run knock as “his day,” Zaman praised New Zealand as a formidable opponent. He added, “This is one of the best knocks in ODI cricket, but I will always rank my 193 in South Africa highly. I really enjoyed this game, and New Zealand is a great side, so definitely one of the best.”

Pakistan Back in the Qualification Race

With a 21-run lead on the DLS method, Pakistan’s victory leveled them with New Zealand on eight points, reigniting their prospects for qualification in the ICC World Cup 2023. Pakistan’s aggressive mindset and remarkable performances have made them a team to watch in the tournament.

VoM News Desk

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