Cricket World Cup 2019: Babar, Afridi boost Pakistan's semi-final hopes as Kiwis taste first defeat

Chasing a challenging target of 238 on a spinning Edgbaston track, Pakistan lose their openers Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman early before they recovered through a half-century stand between Babar and Mohammad Hafeez.

Hafeez threw away an excellent start in an attempt to hoist a Kane Williamson delivery for six to give the Kiwis another opening in the game. However, Babar was resolute at one end to keep Pakistan afloat and the right-hander found able support from an in-form Haris Sohail.

The pair added a match-winning 126-run stand before Haris was run-out on the verge of victory after scoring his second consecutive half-century. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed was on hand to score the winning runs off the final over of the match.

Earlier, Kane Williamson’s decision to bat first backfired with New Zealand getting off to a horror start. Mohammad Amir’s excellent World Cup campaign continued with the pacer dismissing Martin Guptill with his very first delivery to give Pakistan a roaring start.

However, it was a sensational spell from young Shaheen Afridi that did the most damage with the left-armed seamer picking up three top-order wickets in a quick-burst.

Afridi’s extra bounce and pace accounted for the dismissals of Colin Munro, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham in quick succession with New Zealand reduced to 46-4. It went from bad to worse for the Kiwis when Shadab Khan sent back a determined Williamson with a ripper of a delivery in the 27th over.

The Kiwis fought back through a resolute sixth-wicket stand between all-rounders James Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme who both struck valuable half-centuries to take their side to a respectable total of 237-6.

The duo dug deep in a 132-run partnership with Neesham remaining unbeaten on 97 off 112 deliveries.

KEY TAKEAWAY

Babar’s class shines through

Pakistan’s batting in the World Cup was always going to revolve around Babar but the right-hander had failed to really come to the fore until Wednesday’s clash.

Although he had registered two half-centuries previously, the 24-year-old had failed to really together the big innings to take his side across the finish line.

At Edgbaston, he finally showed his class in a polished century made under difficult conditions. The Pakistan man had to survive a testing period in the middle-overs when Mitchell Santner was tightening the screws but he showed the value of patience by accelerating in the second half of his innings.

He performed the anchor role to perfection against the Kiwis and showed excellent determination to remain unbeaten. His maiden World Cup ton couldn’t have come at a better time for Pakistan ahead of their two must-win remaining clashes.

KEY MAN

Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan’s win was built on the back of a superb bowling display led by 19-year-old Afridi. The Men in Green had previously been crying out for support for lead pacer Amir and that was duly provided by Afridi against the Kiwis.

The young left-armer was on the money from his very first delivery in a terrific extended opening spell filled with aggression and intensity.

The teenager was willing to bend his back and it paid dividends with the extra bounce he generated accounting for the dismissals of Munro and Taylor. His delivery to find Latham’s outside edge was a terrific one as well with the ball leaving the left-hander.

Not only was Afridi among the wickets, he was also extremely economical with his initial seven-over spell going for only 11 runs with the help of three maidens.

KEY STAT

Babar breaches 3,000-run mark

During the course of his innings, Babar Azam went past 3,000 runs in the ODI format and became the second quickest in history to do so.

The 68 innings taken by the Pakistan man to get to the mark is one fewer than what Windies legend Sir Viv Richards took. It is only slower than Hashim Amla who breached the 3,000-run barrier in just 57 innings.