Harsha Bhogle, a well-known Indian cricket commentator, has praised Pakistani batsman Fakhar Zaman for his outstanding performance in a crucial match against New Zealand in the ICC World Cup 2023. Pakistan won the game by 21 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. This victory has kept Pakistan’s chances alive for a spot in the tournament’s semi-finals.
The match was affected by rain when Pakistan had scored 200-1 in 25.3 overs, with Fakhar Zaman (126) and captain Babar Azam (66) still at the crease. Thanks to Fakhar’s exceptional batting, Pakistan was ahead by 21 runs on the DLS scoring system after 25.3 overs, securing the win.
Harsha Bhogle praised Fakhar Zaman on social media, acknowledging his ability to turn difficult matches around when he is in good form. Bhogle mentioned that Pakistan must be wondering why Fakhar can’t maintain this level of consistency in addition to his explosive batting skills. Nonetheless, his performance in this match has significantly helped Pakistan’s chances in the tournament.
It’s worth noting that the partnership of 194 runs between Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman played a crucial role in Pakistan’s victory. They are now preparing to face England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 11.
Fakhar Zaman also achieved a historic milestone by scoring the fastest century (in just 63 balls) for Pakistan in a World Cup match, surpassing Imran Nazir’s previous record of 95 balls in the 2007 World Cup against Zimbabwe. Fakhar hit an impressive 11 sixes during his innings, making him only the fourth batsman in World Cup history to achieve this feat.
In the first innings, New Zealand posted a challenging total of 401-6, the second-highest in the ongoing tournament, with notable contributions from Rachin Ravindra (108), Kane Williamson (95), and Glenn Phillips (41). However, Pakistan’s fast bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, had a tough time and set unwanted records for being the most expensive spells by Pakistani bowlers in World Cup history.
New Zealand’s upcoming match against Sri Lanka on November 9 at the same venue is crucial, and a win there could make things more complicated for Babar Azam’s team.
